Old Salem’s Terry Taylor in conversation with Barbara

“It was never my aspiration to be in this role. I feel fate and my love for this place has led me to this point in my life,” Terry confided.

I want you to know the new CEO and Director of Old Salem Museums and Gardens. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Appalachian State University with minor hours in accounting graduating in 1983 and “Yes, that's 40 years ago and yes, I am that old!” states Terry.

His first "real" job was at the WinstonSalem Retail Merchants Association. After 29 years, Terry was the Chief Operating Officer. “My love for history and antiques led me to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), a department of Old Salem. “I volunteered for several years before becoming a MESDA guide in 1999 working some Saturdays but mostly on Sunday afternoons. Over time I became known as the ‘Sunday Guy.’ I was part-time at MESDA 17 years at the same time I was working full-time at DataMax.”

Not counting the years of volunteering, Terry came to Old Salem full-time in May, 2016 managing the Visitor Center and Group Tours. He became interim Chief Operating Officer and became permanent in 2020. He then became interim President & CEO and was named President & CEO in 2022... a total of 24 years.

When asked the favorite part of his work Terry instantly replied, “Just being here. I get a thrill every time I drive into the District and go to my office in one of our most important landmarks – the Single Brother's House built in 1769 with an addition added in 1786. Old Salem is a recognized as a National Historic Landmark District and within the district, two of our buildings are further designated as National Historic Landmarks. Those are the Single Brother's House and Salem Tavern where George Washington spent two nights in 1791. There are lots or firsts here. The Wachovia Historical Society is the oldest of i ts kind in the United States, and the Historic District designation was the first in the state of North Carolina. You have to stop and think that in 1766 when the Moravian's broke ground to begin their town of Salem, there was virtually nothing else was here. Salem, NC was almost in the middle of the 100k acres of land they were settling, referred to as the ‘Back Country’meaning it was "back" from the coast, that they had named Wachovia.”

With his strong passion for historic Old Salem, I asked Terry what his goals were for the future. “One of the first projects I was given when I became COO was to sell 10 properties Old Salem owned west of Marshall Street with the centerpiece being WinstonSalem's original 1939 Coca-Cola Bottling Plant. That building is being developed into a food hall by the new owners and will be a destination within itself when completed. Old Salem could not be happier with their plans and our community partnership.

Then Covid hit and we had to close for a while, lay some staff off, re-open gradually, re-hire and train new staff again. During this time we had strong social media presence, but it is not the same as being open. Many of our historic buildings sat idle for a year or more. Most are now back open, but we're still re-bounding from Covid. Some days it seems like everything we do is a struggle, but we're very positive about the future as visitors and elementary school field trips are slowly coming back. Many visitors think we're a state, county or city park. The dynamic is much more complex than that. Old Salem, Inc. is a 501c non-profit started in 1950 to preserve the town of Salem we share with Salem College & Academy, Home Moravian Church, Salem Congregation, and private residents who pay for and maintain their own properties. Everything we do is also governed by the Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission even down to changing a paint color. Old Salem, Inc. relies on funding from the county, city, and state, but also admission dollars and revenue from our retail stores. We have a substantial endowment, but those funds are highly restricted in how they can be used. For example, a donor may give us a million dollars, but restrict it in a way we only get 5% of its yearly interest to buy seeds, or to go toward buying an artifact for our collections, or whatever the donors’ passion may be.”

Now we know Terry has set some high goals for Old Salem mainly to keep it a float, headed in an affordable direction to operate within, and to maintain the treasure we are trusted to care for at this moment in time so it's still around another 257 years. “Every day we educate visitors and students about the importance of the Moravians settling this area and their contributions to what we are today.”

If he has any spare time, I asked what do you do? “My hobby is history,” Terry admitted. “Collecting, and antiquing, too. I have a very small booth space at Antique Mall of the Foothills in Jonesville.”

Micah 6:8 basically instructs us to do justice, love, mercy and walk humbly with God. I think this is a good way to live and give generously.

If we treat all the people we meet fairly, love our neighbors and show mercy we end up living and giving of ourselves generously.

Mercy is withholding something that is deserved. It pays dividends sometimes to withhold that sharp criticism of a co-worker, loved one or employee and look for way to build them up instead. Being swift to hear, quick to listen and slow to anger is wise advice.

Being humble is not thinking less about yourself but thinking more about other people and their needs. Who needs your generosity, love or mercy today? In these difficult times of rising prices and generally rough economic times on almost every front, let’s keep our eyes open and ears tuned to the many needs of others.

As the line goes, in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king. Our attitude determines our altitude. Let’s adjust our attitudes. You will be amazed how following these simple suggestions can help improve your financial situation. Opportunities to prosper yourself and those around you will begin to show up.

I can’t fully explain it, but I know it is true. Try it and see for yourselves.