A couple walks past the historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
Turned balustrades surround each side of the front porch of the historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The historic Rosenbacher House, one of a few Neoclassical revival dwellings in historic West End, is at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
Corinthian columns on the front porch of the historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The glass doorknob on the front door of the historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
Beveled glass windows are on each side of the double-leaf front doors entering the front of the historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
Ionic columns are a feature of the historic Rosenbacher House’s front porch at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
A historic property placard is displayed next to the front door of the the Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
Neoclassical revival architecture of the historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The historic Rosenbacher House at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
The entrance to the historic Rosenbacher House welcomes one through double-leaf doors flanked by beveled glass and a fanlight transom at 848 W. 5th St. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2020, in downtown Winston-Salem, N.C.
Hang out on the front porch at the Rosenbacher House and you might have some company from the Great Beyond.
The porch, with its grand Corinthian columns and graceful curves, overlooks Fifth Street in Winston-Salem, and the building itself houses the Board Babe, a custom charcuterie business that opened late last year.
But other entities may be lurking about.
“It’s supposedly haunted,” says Taylor Hedges, owner of the Board Babe. “I haven’t had any experiences yet, but I’ve heard there are multiple ghosts, other people say they’ve had experiences.”
The house was built in 1907 by Carrie Rosenbacher, matriarch of the Rosenbacher family, who owned a local clothing shop. The Rosenbachers sold the property in 1975, and a variety of businesses have set up shop inside over the years. Before the Board Babe, the house has been occupied for about five years by Tart Sweets Bakery.
The Neoclassical façade, with its two-story portico, double leaf doors, and semicircular porch, remains perhaps the neighborhood’s most prominent landmark.
“To me, it just seemed amazing,” Hedges says. “I loved the style of it. It’s really beautiful and it deserves to be preserved. I’m excited to be there.”
She was also intrigued by some of the spooky happenings on the property.
