Historic Trades
What Are Historic Trades?
Historic trades are the trades of commercial artisans that would have been operated within a particular historic and geographical context.
For Old Salem Museums and Gardens, that means the historical town of Salem and the greater Wachovia Tract.
Who Performed Historic Trades?
Historic trades within the town of Salem were operated by Moravian master craftsmen, who were trained via the apprenticeship system, who in turn trained successors of their own. Historic trades were also performed by skilled workers that might not have been formalized craftsmen, including women at the Single Sisters’ House and African-American artisans, both free and enslaved.
What Time Period Does Old Salem Interpret for Historic Trades?
Old Salem’s historic trades were foundational to the establishment of Salem in 1766. These trades continued throughout the Industrial Revolution, until they merged with industrialized labor with local mills and factories in the mid-to-late 1800s.
However, the legacy of Salem’s historic trades have made a significant impact on modern day Winston-Salem and beyond!