"Take a Walk Down Memory Lane"
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Kernersville's Historic District
Sponsored by Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Service

The area which is now Kernersville was first inhabited around 1756. In 1771 William Dobson purchased land and built a tavern on the Inter-colonial Stagecoach Line, which runs from Salem to Pennsylvania. A monument plaque on the corner of Main and Mountain Street marks the site where George Washington ate breakfast, as he traveled the route.

Joseph Kerner came from Germany's Black Forest in 1785. In 1817 he purchased 1,032 acre of land. which has become know as "Kerner's Crossroads." In 1871 the town was incorporated as the Town of Kernersville.

Most of the homes on South Main Street were built around the time that the railroad line came through Kernersville (1873). Follow the establishment of the railroad commercial and industrial development accelerated.

In 1988, two sections of town were accepted by the National Register of Historic Places, as well as six individually listed structures.

Francis Marion Stafford House, 711 S. Main Street

Originally a two-story log cabin built around 1840, Francis Stafford added onto the house in 1856. William Cornelius Stafford purchased the house in 1905. The house was moved from 635 S. Main Street by Sallie Greenfield, the great-granddaughter of Francis Marion Stafford.

St. Paul's Cemetery

A pre-Civil War graveyard is located behind the Stafford House, belonged to St. Paul United Methodist Church. Area slaves and other members of the black community are buried here. Several groups are currently involved with restoration efforts at the cemetery.

Gentry-Greenfield House, 707 S. Main Street

Two-story frame dwelling was built around 1861 by John W. Gentry and his wife, Parmelia Kerner Gentry, daughter of John Frederick Kerner. The house was purchased by John M. Greenfield in 1881. It was returned to its original design by Sallie Greenfield.

Theodore E. Kerner House, 620 S. Main Street

This house is a two-story, "L" shaped, handmade brick house with 14-inch tick walls. The house was built by Theodore E. Kerner. Four generations of Kerners have lived in the house.

J.W. Meredith House, 511 S. Main Street

One-story Greek Revival cottage was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the house in 1893.

Kernersville Moravian Church, 504 S. Main Street

John Frederick Kerner, eldest child of Joseph Kerner, deeded nearly two acres of land for a church and graveyard. Brick for the original building was handmade with clay from the Kerner property. "God's Acre", the Moravian graveyard, is located directly behind the church. The brick-walled Korner family graveyard is adjacent to the main graveyard.

Adelaide Kerner Adkins House, 418 S. Main Street

Addie was a daughter is Dr. Elias Kerner, who lived next door and is a fourth generation of Joseph Kerner.

Dr. Elias Kerner House, 414 S. Main Street

The house was built in 1857 by Dr. Elias Kerner. Dr. Kerner was the first full-time doctor in Kernersville. Six generations of Kerners have lived in this house.

Edward H. Gibson House, 419 S. Main Street

This house was built in 1837-1841. Both bricks and timber were local. The house was the first mission of Holy Cross Catholic Church in 1969, and then became an antique shop in 1982.

Korner's Folly, 413 S. Main Street

Korner's Folly is Kernersville's most visible landmark, built by Jule Gilmer Korner (3rd generator of Joseph Kerner) in 1978-1880. It contains 22 rooms on 7 levels, and contains 20 fireplaces. The top level is Cupid's Park, the first private Little Theatre in America. Korner's Folly is offering free tours on Saturday, May 7.

Kerner-Greenfield Tobacco Factory, 402 S. Main Street

Built in 1884, this building is the oldest remaining tobacco factory in Forsyth County. It was built by Theodore E. Kerner and J.M. Greenfield. The structure has also been used as a knitting mill, hosiery factory and now features three luxury condominiums.

Nathaniel M. Kerner House, 312 S. Main Street

In 1857, this house was built by John Frederick Kerner as a wedding gift for his son, Nathanial. In 1970, it was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. John Wolfe III, a 6th generation of Joseph Kerner.

Main Street United Methodist Church, 306 S. Main Street

The original church was built in 1837 on land donated by John Frederick Kerner, son of Joseph Kerner. In 1873, the building was sold to St. Paul United Methodist Church and moved to their graveyard just south of the Stafford House. In 1922, this Neoclassical styled sanctuary was built. Behind the church is located the congregational graveyard with graves dating back to the 1850's.

Issac Harrison McKaughan House, 510 Salsibury Street Two-story, handmade brick structure built in 1875.

Hester-Vance House, 412 Salisbury Street

This cottage was originally part of the "Whittington Place" property that Joseph J. Korner purchased from John Hester.

Bodenhamer's Store, 311 S. Main Street

This two-story commercial structure is located in the "V" of Salisbury and S. Main streets. It was built in 1913 by Joseph J. Korner, and was originally a general store operated by E.Y. Marshall. It has also been a Shell service station, and now houses several offices.

Richard P. Kerner House, 228 S. Main Street

This home was built in 1867 by Richard P. Kerner, the third generation of Joseph Kerner, who was the first principal of (boarding school) Kernersville Academy, and the local railroad agent for the Northwestern North Carolina Railroad.

Henry Clay Korner House, 303 S. Main Street

In 1892, Henry built this house for his mother, Aunt Salie, widow of Philip Korner.

Rephelius Byron Kerner House, 225 S. Main Street

Rephelius Byron Kerner was the fourth generation of Joseph Kerner. The house was built in 1870.

Elias Kerner Huff House, 217 S. Main Street

The Forsyth County Historical Homes group has called this 1880 home to be "the best extant Victorian cottage in the county."

S & R Motor Company, 216 S. Main Street

Built in 1928 by Rephelius Byron Kerner, Jr.

DeWitt Harmon Office, 150 S. Main Street This two room brick, Neoclassical Revival building was built in 1926. It has served at the Kernersville Town Hall, Kernersville Library, License Bureau, office of the Kernersville Historic Preservation Society, and now the office for the Kernersville Little Theatre.

Julius S. Harmon House, 149 S. Main Street

Built in 1858 by Julius Harmon, it has served as a private home, antique shop and an interior decorating office.

Bank of Kernersville, 100 S. Main Street Since its inception in 1903, the Bank of Kernersville was "one of the most stable banks in the area." The bank merged with Wachovia Bank in 1965. For many years it housed the office for the Chamber of Commerce. The KDPDC offices are currently on the second floor.

Pinnix Drugstore

This two-story brick family drugstore was established "on the square" in 1904 by J. M. "Neighbor" Pinnix. Three generations of the Pinnix family operated the store until it closed in 1986. In 1986 it was renovated to become the law office of John Wolfe III.

Main Street Baptist Church, 126 N. Main Street

Construction of this two-story church was finished in 1916 and restored to its original design in 1996.

Roberts-Justice House, 133 N. Main Street

This brick house was built in 1877 by J. C. Roberts, one of the founders of Cherry Street Methodist Church. The earliest church services were held in this house.

First Kernersville Depot, 107 Bodenhamer Street

Built in 1873, the depot housed an office, passenger waiting room and freight warehouse.

Professor J. M. Weatherly House, 623 S. Main Street (1890)

P.A. Fontaine House, 619 South Main Street (1920)

Hunt-Kerner House, 320 S. Cherry Street (1880)

David-Bodenhamer House, 127 W. Mountain Street (1890)

Stuart Motor Company, 109-111 E. Mountain St. (1926)

Odell Beard House, 126 N. Cherry Street (1910)

R. C. Morris House, 134 N. Cherry Street (1925)

George Fulp House, 131 N. Cherry Street (1915)

Totten-Goslen House, 141 N. Cherry Street (1900)

Harmon & Reid Mill, 208 Bodenhamer St. (1897)

Source: Kernersville, N.C., A Walking Tour of Historical Homes. Kernersville Historic Preservation Society.