Winston-Salem in Forsyth County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Historic Scaffold System
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021
1. Historic Scaffold System Marker
Inscription.
Historic Scaffold System. .
"Father sent in his three boys Ellis, Charles, and Jim to help cut scaffold poles." , From the diary of Salem's Francis Fries, April 17, 1849
, Sockets carved into the painted walls of a cave in France supported the earliest known scaffold system used by Paleolithic man. You can see how the Moravians used a similar system close to 17,000 years later as they created sockets to support scaffolding by leaving out certain bricks in the back wall of the 1784 Salem Tavern.
Here, at the 1815 Blum house, we have recreated scaffold that would have been used by carpenters and masons of the day to work at greater heights. And, although our lashed-together pine poles look very primitive, this method of scaffolding is still used in some parts of the world, even to build sky scrapers!
"Father sent in his three boys Ellis, Charles, and Jim to help cut scaffold poles."
From the diary of Salem's Francis Fries, April 17, 1849
Sockets carved into the painted walls of a cave in France supported the earliest known scaffold system used by Paleolithic man. You can see how the Moravians used a similar system close to 17,000 years later as they created sockets to support scaffolding by leaving out certain bricks in the back wall of the 1784 Salem Tavern.
Here, at the 1815 Blum house, we have recreated scaffold that would have been used by carpenters and masons of the day to work at greater heights. And, although our lashed-together pine poles look very primitive, this method of scaffolding is still used in some parts of the world, even to build sky scrapers!
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical date for this entry is April 17, 1849.
Location. 36° 5.16′ N, 80° 14.514′ W. Marker is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in Forsyth County. Marker is on South Main Street just south of West Street Southwest, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 714 S Main St, Winston Salem NC 27101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tavern Smokehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Salem Square
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021
2. Historic Scaffold System Marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021
3. The Blum House
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021
4. Supplementary plaque on the house
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 98 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
