For 122 years, Wake Forest College and its namesake town, the Town of Wake Forest, have shared intertwined histories. Wake Forest College began in 1834 as Wake Forest Institute, founded by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, to train ministers and support missionaries in North Carolina. The close bond between the college and the town prompted Wake Forest’s growth and identity. Wake Forest College’s decision to relocate to Winston-Salem in 1956 was driven by the need to modernize its facilities, support an expanding student population, and secure the institution’s long-term sustainability.

In May 1943, Wake Forest College’s ninth president, Dr. Thurman Kitchin, launched a two-million-dollar campaign to build 11 new facilities to accommodate a student body of 2,000 and add five million to the school’s endowment. The existing campus and facilities were outdated and too small to accommodate the growing student body. The college’s income was insufficient to both maintain operations and to fund expansion. Construction of new campus buildings began in 1944. However, by 1945, the campaign was well below the two-million-dollar goal.

The leaders of the enlargement campaign started to raise concerns about Wake Forest College’s future in Wake Forest. Odus Mull, a trustee of the college, and Charles Jackson, the director of the Expansion Program, were among those who approached William Reynolds, president of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, to seek financial support for the college. Reynolds considered the need for an undergraduate college in Winston-Salem. At that time, Winston-Salem had only Salem College for women and Winston-Salem Teachers College for African Americans. Reynolds also recognized that major financial support could dramatically change a college’s future, based on his experience seeing Duke University go through a similar process. Reynolds brought together trustees, business leaders, and his own family to rally support for Wake Forest College’s move, personally contributing and soliciting funds to ensure the project’s success.

On March 25, 1946, news broke that the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, funded by a significant tobacco fortune, offered Wake Forest College up to $330,000 annually in perpetuity, contingent upon the college relocating 110 miles west to Winston-Salem. The Wake Forest College Board of Trustees met to discuss this opportunity. While the trustees were emotionally attached to the historic campus, they recognized the practical benefits of the offer and unanimously resolved to move forward. A few weeks later, Wake Forest College trustees publicly announced they would accept the offer, sparking a range of reactions.

Forest Mixon, president of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, expressed major concern that accepting the Reynolds Foundation’s offer might compromise the college’s mission. He urged Wake Forest College to reconsider and called for a thorough review of other options. Ultimately, the North Carolina Baptist State Convention voted in favor of the proposal, overriding Mixon’s objections and allowing Wake Forest College to proceed with the offer.

Many professors recognized opportunities for academic advancement, but also expressed concern about leaving behind long-standing traditions and close community ties. Some community members supported the move, seeing it as a chance for growth. Others worried about the loss to the town and the impact on local businesses. Through operating expenses, payroll, and student spending, Wake Forest College in turn fueled the town’s economy and invested in its future. Athletic events drew thousands of visitors to the small town. Students dined at restaurants, shopped at local stores, and went to the movies downtown. The Town of Wake Forest contributed over $100,000 to Wake Forest College’s expansion campaign. Town commissioners viewed an investment in the college as an investment in local economic development.

Wake Forest College’s move to Winston-Salem marked a pivotal turning point for both the institution and the Town of Wake Forest. While the relocation brought new opportunities for Wake Forest College, it also signaled the end of a partnership that had shaped the identities of both the college and its original home.

Stay tuned for part two ….