River John made his mark on Forsyth County

River John Conrad's story is really the American story of a man who sets out for places unknown, settles down and, through his own efforts, realizes his dream of achieving success. It's the story of our nation, with men and families heading West to settle a farm or ranch, attracting yet others to build a community and, finally, maybe a Chicago, or a Denver, or a San Francisco.

Yet, there was a time, 200 years ago, when our western Forsyth County was "out west," 50 years and more before there was a West out there.

To begin the story: In about 1800 a young man named John Conrad left Bethania, the Moravian settlement, and headed across country toward the Great Wagon Road near its crossing of the famous Shallow Ford on the Yadkin River. Here he married a local girl and, on a lonely hill overlooking the Yadkin, he began farming. Some saw rough wilderness and discouragement. He saw opportunity everywhere.

Over time his energy and enterprise led him to build a mill, and then a ferry across the Yadkin River. His small farm grew to become a fruit plantation of nearly 2,000 acres.

In the early 1800s he built a large, Federal-style home.

From his holdings along the Yadkin, locals called him "River John" Conrad.

His many enterprises attracted others to form a nearby settlement called Brooks-town, and River John helped establish its stores, schools and churches.

The road that led from his ferry through Brookstown to Salem supported the important dried-fruit export economy. It later allowed tobacco farmers in the western counties to move their product to market, and helped our city and county to grow into the dominating economic center of the Piedmont. We call that important old route Robinhood Road today. And River John helped make it all possible.

Today his old home still stands on its original hill to inspire us all to achieve our own personal part of the American dream.

A long time ago, a person wrested the future of the untamed earth, built with his skills and industry impressive enterprises, and bequeathed his legacy to the larger community. Each of us might do no less.

Now, how his historic home came to remain for us is the stuff of yet another American story, the kind we watch on the Home and Gardens TV channel.

About 30 years ago, several different families moved into River John's now run-down house, saved the 10 country acres surrounding it, proceeded to remove disfiguring additions, and lovingly restored "This Old House" into the home we see today.

Previously, state and county laws established our local historic-resources commission to assist the new owners in their restoration of River John's home in exchange for a Local Historic Landmark designation, preservation in perpetuity, and eligibility for a 50-percent reduction in their property taxes.

The experiences learned from this early designation led, over time, to the designation of 120 other properties as locally important links to our community's history and development, mostly in towns and cities.

The Forsyth County commissioners designated River John's home as one of a few remaining on the county's old western frontier. And each successive owner of the home has served as a responsible custodian of our legacy.

It's been a triumphant story so far.

But now the present owners' needs have outgrown River John's home and they have proposed wrapping around the old home a 6,000-square-foot addition costing $1.5 million. This modern addition would be three times the size of River John's home and shrink its importance as part of our community's heritage. To achieve this project, they want the zoning changed and the county commissioners' historic designation repealed, which would be a precedent-establishing first.

The proud home on the hill would be lost among the modern sprawl and lost, too, to our view. No longer would his old home serve to remind us of the time, two centuries ago, when a local young man achieved the American dream through his own talent, enterprise and energy.

All is not yet lost, however. The state and county laws establishing the designation process also provide guidelines for owners to make additions to accommodate their changing needs, while preserving River John's legacy. A compromise within the law is possible.

So here's to River John's home on the hill. Let it long remain to inspire us with his achievements.

Rod Meyer was the director of Historic Bethabara Park from 1987 to 2004 and is now retired.

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