Page 14 - MOST RECENT

During the next nine years we do not have any de-
KORNER'S FOLLEY
"A Man's Home is his Castle."
Komer's Folly was begun in 1878 and completed in 1880.
Its architect and owner was Jule Komer, born in 1851 and the
grandson of Joseph Kerner for whom Kernersville is named.
The "Folly", as it has been known for years, was built to accom-
modate all of Jule Komer's needs. In 1878 Jule Komer was a
young artist of 27 and the edifice was to serve as a bachelor
quarters, studio, stables, and carriage-way. The original arches
through the center of the home, forming the carriage-way, are still
evident. The stables formed the right lower floors of the building
and the bachelor quarters were situated on the left lower floors. The
studios were on the upper floor and the carriage-way cut directly
through the center of the building dividing the bachelor quar-
ters and stables.
Jule Komer married Polly Alice Masten iq 1886 and the
home began to take on a different nature. The bachelor quarters
were changed to living quarters for the newly married couple.
The carriage-way was enclosed and formed a vestibule, dining
room and breakfast room. A kitchen was added on the rear of
the home. The stables were moved outside the home to a new
barn and the old stables became a library and sewing room.
When Jule Komer started in the interior decorating business
his home became his showcase. The rooms took on an elegant
air - silk damask on the walls - beautifully carved woodwork
- hand-laid tile on the floors and around the fireplaces - and
magnificent handpainted murals and frescoes on the ceilings.
Board of Directors of Korner's Folly, Incorporated: Jo Fitz-
patrick, Elizabeth Sparks, John W. Lain, Peter W. Blum, III,
Jack White, Billy Pope, Theodore C. Kerner, Reginald Styers.
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tails as to exactly what Joseph was doing. ''Without
doubt, Joseph was turning his hand to any profitable
venture that turned up." By 1797 he had become the
owner of 200 acres of land and in January of that year
he married Christinia Kastner, a Moravian and a grand-
daughter of Adam Spach. The three children born to
their marriage were John Frederick, Salome and Philip.
This, then, was the family who came to their new home
at the crossroads in 1817. John Frederick was a young
man of 19 and his sister, Salome, a year younger, with
young Philip a boy of 12.
Joseph continued to keep the inn and related busi-
nesses at the crossroads (now called Kerner's crossroads)
and also purchased additional land until he had in-
creased the tract to 1144 acres. He died at the age of
61 on June 9, 1830 and was carried back to his Friedland
borne for burial. He had remained faithful to the church
of his youth until his death, although there was no
Roman Catholic church closer than Charleston, South
Carolina. However, his wife and children were members
of the Friedland Moravian Church and he was accepted,
esteemed and loved by the Moravian community. The
Salem Diary for June 10, 1830 reads, "Brother Bechler
preached the funeral sermon . . . out of doors in front
of the church because the hall was too small to contain
all the hearers."
After their father's death John Frederick, Salome
and Philip made a division of the tract of land. By this
time they had all been married for several years. John
Frederick was married to Nancy Landrum. They had a
large family of six sons and three daughters. Salome
had married Apollos Harmon, formerly of Connecticut,
and they had three sons, two of whom grew to man-
hood. Philip was first married to Judith Gardner and they
had seven children, four girls and three boys. After her
death, Philip married Sarah Gibbons and they had two
sons.
The home on South Cherry Street built in the 1800's by Charlie
Hunt who married Mina Kerner, daughter of Israel Kerner. It has re-
mained in the Kerner family, having belonged to Robah B. Kerner, Carl
Kerner and now belongs to Theodore C. Kerner.