Winston-Salem State Secures Nearly $750,000 Federal Grant to Preserve Founder's Historic Home

Winston-Salem State University has secured a $749,700 federal grant to restore the historic home of its founder, according to reporting by HBCU Gameday. The institution announced on Wednesday that the grant was awarded through the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The federal funding will support comprehensive renovation work on the S.G. Atkins House, a historical structure that has stood for more than 130 years on the campus grounds.

Built in 1893, the two-story white building originally served as the personal residence of Simon Green Atkins Jr., who founded the institution in 1892. Situated on Alumni Drive, the home currently houses the university’s Office of Alumni Affairs and was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The historic structure represents an important chapter in both Black education and local economic development. Its preservation carries significance well beyond the campus perimeter.

According to reporting by HBCU Gameday, the Atkins House is the final surviving structure among three historic homes in Columbia Heights that were designated on the National Register. Columbia Heights was established as one of the prominent early Black middle-class neighborhoods in Winston-Salem. The two other historic residences in the neighborhood, the James S. Hill House and the John Walter Paisley House, were both previously demolished, making the Atkins House an irreplaceable historical landmark for the surrounding community.

The upcoming preservation effort aims to repair decades of structural deterioration caused by continuous weather and water damage. Planned restoration tasks include full roof replacement, historic window restoration, repairs to exterior siding and porch framing, and major infrastructure upgrades to the building's heating, cooling, and fire alarm safety systems. Jeremy C. Alltop, chief operating officer at Winston-Salem State University, served as the principal investigator and lead author for the federal grant application.

Alltop stated that the preservation project connects directly to Chancellor Bonita J. Brown’s We Are Rising 2030 strategic plan. The university plan focuses on responsible management of institutional assets while strengthening community partnerships. Alltop emphasized that restoring the Atkins House provides an avenue to share the university's legacy while highlighting an essential chapter in the history of Winston-Salem. Dr. Shawn E. Holt, chief research officer and associate provost at the university, recognized the collaborative work across several administrative offices that made securing the competitive federal grant possible.

While the funding has been officially granted, active physical construction will not begin right away. The preservation project requires formal review and approval from both the Winston-Salem State Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors. Furthermore, university teams must complete required historic preservation reviews, final architectural designs, and vendor procurement procedures before setting a start date for construction.