SEPTEMBER 14, 1930 – WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
First Forsyth County Flag
Book Tells History of standard carried in 1861
An interesting bit of history surrounding the making of the first
Forsyth county flag to be carried by the Boys in Gray in the Civil
War is contained in a volume published by the North Carolina
Women of the Confederacy and written by Mrs. John Huske
Anderson, historian of the NC Confederacy. A copy of the
volume has been presented to the Winston-Salem Public
Library and is available to members.
Here is the excerpt about the flag:
“The first flag of Forsyth county was made for company 1,
Captain A.H. Belo. It was made by Misses Bettie and Laura
Lemly, Nellie Belo, Carry and Mary Fries. It was made of red,
white and blue silk, and was embroidered in all large letters, with
[? ], the white side, with the words, “Liberty or Death”. After the
war, Colonel Belo settled in Texas which accounts for the fact
that after his death his widow presented the flag to the Texas
Room in the Confederate Museum at Richmond, Va.”
“The second flag was made for the company commanded by
Captain Rufus Wharton. It was carried in several battles; was
concealed on the person of its Captain at the fall of Plymouth,
and was brought home when he was exchanged. It was
presented to the Wachovia historical society of Winston-Salem
several years ago by Mrs. Blythe of Philadelphia.”
“Both of these flags were presented to the companies of the
Forsyth Rifles by Miss Bettie Lemly (later Mrs. Blacknail Brooks
of Salem), being carried by Miss Laura Lemly (who never
married) and Mary Fries [married Rufus Lenoir Patterson]. The
ceremony took place at the corner of Main and Bank Streets,
the young ladies standing on the steps leading to the entrance
of what is now known as the Belo home, then a private
residence belonging to Captain Belo’s father. Miss Sarah E.
Shaffner remembers passing just at the time for the
presentation of the first flag, and being touched and thrilled by
the sight of Miss Lemly making the presentation speech to
Captain Belo and his company.”
Submitted by Betsy L. Hendrix
First Forsyth County Flag
1930 WSJ Article
|
Official Forsyth Flag Is Adopted
Nov 5, 1963 WSJ Article
|
Forsyth County was formed in 1849. For
almost 115 years people got along without
an official flag. Yesterday, the Board of
Commissioners adopted one.
The color of the official flag is blue--the blue
of the United Nations flag and the blue,
incidentally, of the University of North
Carolina.
The official seal of Forsyth County is in the
center. The seal, stitched in black, is
bordered by a golden ring and two golden
tobacco leaves......
The motion was carried unanimously, and
James B. Nowell, assistant purchasing
agent, packed up the various designs
suggested and walked out.
Members of the Forsyth County Volunteer
Firemen's Association submitted the design
that was adopted. They wanted flags to fly
at the fire stations.