Page 74 - MOST RECENT

In the Marketplace

EARLY BUSINESS HISTORY

The business development of Kernersville may be
divided into three time periods. First there was the
pre-railroad era. Second was the period following the
coming of the railroad and extending to about 1920.
The third period of development since 1920 is presently
with us and will not receive detailed consideration in
this brief history.
Location and transportation routes made it in-
evitable that Kernersville would some day develop into
a business center. The crossroads was the juncture of
two important highways. The East-West road extended
from Wilmington and Fayetteville in the east, to and

across the mountains. This was known as the mountain
road, now Mountain Street in Kernersville. The inter-
secting road went north to Danville, Philadelphia and
other points. The road to the south forked a short dis-
Kenneth Lee Greenfield, President of Greenfield Farm and Garden Store,
tance from the crossroads. The right fork went to the Inc., seated before a picture of his father, John Mabry Greenfield, founder
well established town of Salem while the left fork led of the business (then Cash Feed Store) which was established in 1919. The
new store was built in 1964.
to Salisbury, Charlotte and points south. This North-
South road is now the Main Street of Kernersville, the
north end being Danville Street and the two forks at
the south end being Salem Street and Salisbury Street.
This location was logical for the thriving business
of inn keeping and all the early owners engaged in that
and associated businesses. William Dobson, who ac- Three of the
town's prominent
quired the crossroads property about 1771, operated the businessmen. Left
to right: Mr. Jule
inn, stage house, post office and store. Schober, who Korner, Mr. Jos-
eph Korner and
bought from Dobson, continued these business enter- Mr. Henry Korner.

prises and when Joseph Kerner bought the property in
1817 he developed and expanded the crossroads as a
The James A. Lowery Store with Mr. Lowery stand-
ing in the doorway. The picture was made around business center.
1896. Mr. Lowery established his business circa 1886.
H e was the father of Mrs. Boyd Stafford. A list of Joseph Kerner' s business activities include
the following: farmer, tavern keeper, clock maker, hard-
ware manufacturer and miller. In addition to the above
Joseph established the first commercial manufacturing

Statesvill~ Flour Mills has operated in Kernersville for 21 years. Joe
E. Geddy is manager. Service includes custom grinding and mixing and
distribution of flour and livestock feeds in a 75-mile radius of Kernersville.

Statesville Mills was
built by D. W. Har-
mon in 1897 and
known as Harmon &
Reid Mill.

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