Pictorial: National Night Out in East Winston

Volunteers from Great Commission Community Church 

Despite overcast skies and unseasonably chilly weather, about 100 people materialized for National Night Out in East Winston, one of several events across the Triad to promote public safety and give residents an opportunity to meet with police officers and firefighters.

Tyeshia McCullough and Henry Moore

102 JAMZ provided music for National Night Out in East Winston, which was held in a lot next door to the 14th Street Recreation Center in Winston-Salem. Along with the city's police and fire departments, the event drew a number of vendors, as well as representatives of SG Atkins Community Development Corp., Camel City Dispatch, Baptist Hospital and Forsyth County Democratic Party.

Susan Campbell and NC Sen. Earline Parmon

Phil Carter, a candidate for the East Ward on Winston-Salem City Council, and NC Sen. Earline Parmon also attended the community gathering.

Marva Reid and NC Sen. Earline Parmon

Carolina Stars drum corps

The youngest member of the Carolina Stars

Montgomery launches re-election campaign for East Ward

Derwin Montgomery

Winston-Salem City Councilman Derwin Montgomery opened his remarks with a recitation of his favorite poem, “It Couldn’t Be Done” by Edgar Guest, during a gathering on Monday evening at the Winston Mutual Building to kick off his re-election campaign in the East Ward.

“He started to sing as he tackled the thing/ That couldn’t be done, and he did it!” Montgomery recited, before recalling that he ran for city council four years ago as a 20-year-old Winston-Salem State University student.

Montgomery unseated incumbent Joycelyn Johnson in the Democratic primary four years ago by harnessing Winston-Salem State University student votes in a low-turnout contest. Johnson has announced plans to challenge Montgomery this year, setting up a rematch.

Mayor Allen Joines, East Winston community leader Marva Reid and businessman Algenon Cash were among those who appeared at the event to support Montgomery’s candidacy.

“He’s an energetic, bright young man that has brought a lot of talent to our council,” Joines said. “We’ve struggled in the vineyards, as you say, on some tough, thorny issues there, and it’s always been my pleasure to work with him. He’s been a big supporter of economic development to try to move this city forward.”

Reid, president of the East-Northeast Winston Neighborhood Association, said, “The East Ward needs a person that see their leadership as doing the people’s business. In the past, East Winston leaders were considered the swing voters or going along with the majority. But Councilman Derwin Montgomery has exemplified that he will stand up [against] injustices for us and for all people.”

Cash, a Republican, acknowledged that Montgomery “and I don’t share the same politics,” but said, “I stand here tonight in full support of this young man and his vision.”

Montgomery said it was no coincidence that he chose to launch his campaign at the Winston Mutual Building, a four-story landmark in the East Winston landscape that has sat vacant in recent years. Fifth Street Investments, a company registered by local developer Hank Perkins, bought the property last September.

“Six months [into my term] that’s when they made everybody move out,” Montgomery recalled. “The company went into receivership. Everybody was afraid that it was going to be demolished. It was important to preserve the building because it had so much symbolism in representing African-American entrepreneurship.”

Montgomery said the 2013-2014 annual budget recently approved by city council includes a provision to move the Winston-Salem Police Department’s crime-prevention unit into the second floor of the Winston Mutual building.

“It’s going to say to the entire community that this building is back in use, and we’re going to put tenants in it,” the councilman said.

The candidate built on the theme of his surprise win four years ago.

“We showed this community that things can be done that we think cannot happen," he said. "We continue to look at all the obstacles that we face in this community. We have done great work over the past four years. We have worked with the mayor and the rest of the council to try to bring more jobs to bring more jobs to Winston-Salem and to create an environment that is open to businesses to grow and develop. We try to nurture that same environment when it comes to small business and small-business development."

Montgomery said one of his priorities is matching people who are looking for work in the East Ward with employers who are trying to fill job positions.

“As a council member it’s not written in my job description that that’s something that I’m supposed to do," he said. "But the community needs individuals that will do that type of work. We need individuals to continue to move forward to connect the dots for neighborhoods that have felt separated from what is happening in downtown Winston-Salem and across the entire city."

Residents worry council will back off plan to redevelop train station

A delegation of East Winston residents urged Winston-Salem City Council on Monday to press forward with the redevelopment of Union Station by condemning the Davis Garage.

“There is still an unjust behavior in the city’s treatment of black people,” community leader Marva Reid said. “We ask that the city stop this pattern of unjust behavior and allow us to keep our train station.” She added that the city has torn down parts of predominantly black east Winston-Salem while redeveloping white areas on the west side of the city.

Mayor Allen Joines cautioned council members that the city was actively engaged in litigation over the fate of the property and that they should not comment on the matter. The council went into closed session to discuss the lawsuit, which pits the city against garage owner Harvey L. Davis and to discuss a possible economic incentives deal. The council took no action on the matter after returning from closed session to adjourn the meeting.  

“Winston-Salem State University has grown tremendously, and we would benefit by having a train station because you currently have to go to Greensboro to catch the train,” said Manderline Scales, a retired educator at the university. “That would be a golden opportunity for jobs and business.” Others suggested opening a “Gaines Gallery” honoring the late WSSU basketball coach Clarence “Big House” Gaines that would feature photographs of players who went on to prominence, and retail shops. The property is directly across Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from the university. 

Councilman Dan Besse, who represents the Southwest Ward, has said that Winston-Salem is the largest North Carolina city without passenger rail service. 

Reid said that Councilman Derwin Montgomery, who represents the East Ward, told residents that the council is split on whether to follow through with condemnation of the property and some are considering finding a different location for a future train station. Montgomery was not present for the meeting and could not be reached for this story. 

The city received a $1.3 million grant from the federal government in 2004 to redevelop the former train station. The council voted in 2005 to acquire the property by deed or condemnation. 

In other news, the council voted unanimously to designate RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company Factory Complex 64 as a local historical landmark. The status allows the property owner to apply for a 50 percent tax break as long as the historic features of the building, a hulking complex at 500 E. 5th St. at the east end of downtown, are retained. 

“RJ Reynolds was known for its almost complete dependence on African-American labor,” LeAnn Pegram, historic resource officer for the Historic Resources Commission, told council. “RJ Reynolds would send trains to eastern North Carolina and South Carolina to pick up workers. At first, they worked seasonally, but eventually they settled in Winston-Salem.” 

Pegram said the building is notable for its role in the city’s labor history. 

“In 1943 there was a strike that occurred,” she said. “A factory worker died while working. He had requested leave because he was ill. Several hundred African-American women stemmers — and that’s not an easy job — went on strike immediately. They won the right to paid vacation and higher wages.” 

Pegram said in response to a question by Mayor Pro Tem Vivian Burke, who represents the Northeast Ward, that the historic commission would consider placing a plaque on the site to honor women labor leaders such as Velma Hopkins and Theodosia Simpson. 

The council also unanimously approved a $18,340 economic incentives grant to Cathtek LLC, a medical device development and assembly company. The company was established in 2000 as an original anchor tenant of the Piedmont Triad Research Park, and has purchased the old Curley Harley Davidson building on Reidsville Road with plans to relocate. 

Councilman James Taylor Jr., who represents the Southeast Ward, said city officials have expressed their wishes that the company hire local residents, but there’s no way for the city to make that a requirement of the grant.