Boston Thurmond Community
The Boston Thurmond neighborhood was established in 1892. Thurmond in Boston Thurmond comes from Thurmond Street which is a part of the main quarter of the neighborhood. While Boston originated as a reference to the style of shotgun houses that were built in the neighborhood.
Many early residents of Boston Thurmond worked for R.J. Reynolds. With several tobacco warehouses close by the neighborhood allowed employees to be in close proximity to where they worked. Additionally, the women in the neighborhood worked and cleaned houses for families who lived in Buena Vista, which is only two miles away.
In fact, the Boston Thurmond Neighborhood Association’s logo represents some of these historical elements of the neighborhood. The cottage signifies the type of houses that were often built in the neighborhood. Additionally, the tree represents the palm orchard that was originally in the neighborhood. Finally, the light post is in reference to the old saying, “when the lights come on, it is time to come inside.”
The Boston Thurmond neighborhood has two resident leaders, Mary Ford and Diane Fitzhugh, both of whom are heavily involved in the community. Ms.Ford is the vice president of the Boston Thurmond Neighborhood Association as well as being on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County. Ms.Fitzhugh is on the boards of Helping Our People Eat (HOPE) and Experience for Self Reliance (ESR).
To learn more about what is being done in Boston Thurmond and to with community members, please view the resources below.
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Boston Thurmond United "Treats for Teachers"
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Boston Thurmond Resident Leader, Ms.Diane Fitzhugh alongside Regina Hill, Executive Director of the Boston Thurmond Initiative, participated in the Boston Thurmond United "Treats for Teachers" at Paisley Middle School.
With the help of Delores Turner, a shareholder in the Boston Thurmond Community Engagement Roundtable, Ms.Fitzhugh distributed donuts, juice, and water to teachers as they reported to work on the morning of Monday, October 4th 2021. Boston Thurmond United looks forward to working with Principal Mann about having more events to show appreciation as well as provide support for students and staff.
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Ms. Mary Ford and Boston-Thurmond’s Progress
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Ms.Mary Ford serves as one of two Resident Leaders in the Boston-Thurmond neighborhood in the eastern part of Winston-Salem. She describes her neighborhood as a 'gold mine'. the value catalyzed and preserved by residents is clear based on the one-stop-shop model of stakeholders and the early signs of gentrification.
Boston-Thurmond is situated conveniently between Wake Forest University and Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and is bisected by University Parkway. Here, Ms.Ford speaks highly of organizations like H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem, Novant Community Health, and Experiment in Self-Reliance (ESR) who have made their home in Boston-Thurmond while providing resources, programs, and services to community residents.
Ms.Ford speaks with breezy enthusiasm about the opportunities made by her community for her community. We meet Ms.Rosa Johnson whose relaxed nature and passion for gardening led her to build, maintain, and educate youth in a community garden across from Kimberley Park Elementary. The relationships built between community experts like Ms.Johnson and Resident Leaders like Ms.Ford has strengthened Boston-Thurmond's self-sufficiency.
Despite evidence of city oversight and neglect to address instances of glaring inequality, Ms.Ford remains positive. "We are trying to bring everyone together. Sometimes I wonder if people on the other side [referring to the change from 25th street to Arbor Road passing Susanna Wesley Dr.] notice or care about the neighbors or the community a block away from them. I'm hopeful though."
This hopefulness and positivity is clear through the work of Ms.Ford, Ms.Diane Fitzhugh, the Boston-Thurmond Neighborhood Association, and Boston-Thurmond United. The gold mine seems to be in very good hands, as it should be.
