c-span3's american history tv. we will be back live in just over 10 minutes with caroline janney. she is the author of remembering the civil war. she will talk about the competing memories of the civil annexld by unionists confederates in the postwar era. until then, more civil war history from our c-span cities tour which looks at the history of cities across america. >> southern houses are important because they are and iconic symbol of african-american freedom of post-emancipation. friedman -- freeman with barely anything. this is what they could afford when they entered into the new life situation. we want to preserve the symbols

of freedom. they are small in dwelling but i have such a large story and that is why we want to preserve these shotgun houses. ining a neighborhood started 1872. we back up a little bit there, the plantation was broken into lots and sold for homeownership post-emancipation. it was a way to keep the people out new free of the town of salem. dr. schuman was an arabian. he owned slaves. needed aof salem doctor and they wanted to bring in dr. schuman. the church did not allow individual ownership of slaves so a community was built for dr.

schuman on the salem plantation. 17 enslaved people. 1836 he emancipated the people he had enslaved and they went to liberia. they were the first free people to go to liberia. town of back into the salem. after the civil war ends, agency to seven a school is built in what has been known as the happy hills community. 1872 is actually when land was purchased and the community is actually formed. 1880's, you the have 25 families now who have settled in the happy hill community and the community begins to grow. cemeteries are established as well. you have 50 more families that are now living in a happy hills

community. spurto 1920 was a growth due to the industrialization of winston and people coming up from south carolina to work in the factories. around 1920 there were a hundred 30 families living and what we know now as the happy hills community. this bond is formed between these families and i think that is the irony of it. the happy hill community was put together or developed to keep black people away, but as a result they formed the community and people began to bond. they had shops and stores. the community becomes a place of home for them. of course, as time progresses around 1910 the railroad comes through and it cuts the community off from the east side

of town. also developing at this time is a working class. east of happy hill would have been columbia heights which is a community of professional african-american teachers who would be working at the university. highway cuts through happy hill and it takes away the north end of the graveyard. that is another devastating blow to the community. all of this time you have these people who are making a life with all of these changes around them. these houses were saved. they are very symbolic. the architectural style is very important. the one behind me was moved here. we believe this house is the moved three times.

, there is a out reason that this house is been saved and that is why we are working so hard to preserve it. also the other house that was placed on the slot next to an existing shotgun house on its original foundation, that when would want to save as well. there were two there but one of them has been burned. as anouse would be used exhibit space or a museum space to house the history of the happy hill community. also to house the local history of african-americans and winston-salem. the plan is of course to have happy hill established as a historic neighborhood. as the these two houses gateway into the community and the landmark structures for our

heritage. the community values the historical and architectural significance of these houses. projecten an ongoing for nearly 30 years to save them. around that they will be for future generations. >> it can watch this and other programs on the history of communities across the country at the span.org cities tour. this is american history tv only on c-span3. tvh week american history brings you archival films the provide context for today's public affairs issue.