Historic Oak Crest is a unique neighborhood that dates back as early as the 1920’s and is nestled in the north side of Winston-Salem adjacent to Wake Forest University.

Several years ago I was cleaning out my attic and discovered a box with a dried corsage inside. The name on the box read Oak Crest Florist, 314 Friendship Circle. I remembered from my childhood that my neighbor, Eleanor Lyon (Brown), ran a florist from her basement in the 1950's. Finding that corsage planted the seed (no pun intended), which has turned into a wonderful project to revitalize a “forgotten” neighborhood and reclaim its original name, Oak Crest.

With the neighborhood currently becoming transitional, I began to explore ideas of how the neighborhood could improve upon and retain the original charm that had drawn families to Oak Crest so many years ago.

Many other wealthy families settled near this area as well. Families such as the Grays, Hanes, Davises and the Hines all moved to this area to build their country estates. Also, the infamous Dr. Speas, MD, and Dr. Cox, Chiropractor, both settled near the intersection of Reynolda Road and Polo Road. Clyde Myers, Carl Barnes, the Baitys and the Hennings were some of the other residents.

Polo Road

Polo Road, named for the polo field, next to Speas Elementary School, runs west and east from Robinhood Road to Indiana Avenue. It was a dirt road until the mid 1930's. The section of Polo Road between Reynolda Road and University Parkway (formerly Bethabara Road) is the main corridor of the Oak Crest neighborhood. At one time it was called Oak Crest Drive.

Friendship Circle

Freds Road

Freds Road is a short street off Friendship Circle. It is named after Fred Nesbit who was the son of John and Rebecca Nesbit. The Nesbit family own much of the property along Freds Road.

Crepe Myrtle Circle

Crepe Myrtle Circle was a tract of land owned by ____ Nading. He designed the circle and planted the crepe myrtle trees that line the street today.  His daughter, Mary McGeehee, is in her mid-nineties and, until recently, still lived on the street that her father designed.

Idlewild Drive

Harmon Avenue

Harmon Avenue is a short street that was originally a boulevard. It had a center median with grass and trees. When the residents requested that the street be paved, the city would only agree to pave one side of it. So, they took up the median and paved that area, giving the residents on each side of the street the portion of the old boulevard as an extended front yard. The evidence of the old road is still present as curbs, walls, and sidewalks stop short of the present street.

Harmon got its name for the Harmon sisters who lived in a cabin on a small farm, which is now part of nearby Woodberry Forest.

It is said that the Harmon sisters were responsible for the name Oak Crest. The Davis family who lived on Sunnynoll Farm (corner of Reynolda Road and Polo Road) would send their children to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to the Harmon sisters. The children would carry the fresh goods on a cart pulled by a pony named Toby. They would go through the fields of Sunnynoll and a forest of beautiful oak trees, down a steep hill on the south side of Crepe Myrtle Circle to the Harmon’s little cabin. The children called the steep hill “whoopee hill” because as they went down the hill they would all yell “whoopee”. Since the crest of the hill contained oak trees, the Harmon sisters called the area “Oak Crest”.

Hobart Street

Hobart Street is a small connector street between Harmon Avenue and Rosedale Circle. Some of the old maps have it labeled “Rosedale Jr”. It is only wide enough for one car and is surrounded by beautiful trees. It’s like driving trough a tunnel. Originally tar and gravel, the street was paved in the 1970’s. It was scheduled to be resurfaced a few years ago, but the city has a policy that it must be wide enough for two cars to meet, which would mean cutting down those beautiful trees. The residents requested it be left alone.

As part of my information gathering process, it is necessary for me to conduct personal interviews with residents. I am able to use this information to build a chronological history that tells the story of Oak Crest.

I would like to thank the following people who assisted in the development of this web site.

Carmel Hall (Celeste Teal Creations) who designed the web site.

Helen Etters who photographed some of the homes and landscapes in the Oak Crest neighborhood.