Historic Körner’s Folly, 413 S. Main Street, Kernersville, NC, adjusts to public closure and moves resources online, in keeping with public health guidelines during the COVID pandemic.
“During this time of uncertainty and disruption, we are committed to remaining connected to our community,” says Dale Pennington, executive director of the Körner’s Folly Foundation. “While we are saddened to close our doors, we understand that in the interest of public health, we must confront this challenge and find new solutions for fulfilling our mission.” Pennington continues: “Offering such in-depth virtual access steps outside the scope of our normal activities, and it is our hope that during this time, Körner’s Folly will remain an anchor of the Kernersville community and continue to offer high-quality content that shares knowledge, provides entertainment and enjoyment, and relieves stress.”
The new Online Resources Catalog launched Monday, March 30th, was made possible in part with a grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation. This Online Resource Catalog is provided free of charge for accessing the unique history of Körner’s Folly while the museum is closed to the public. “Fun and engaging for all ages, the catalog includes printable activities, collections spotlights, fascinating trivia, vintage recipes, and links to further reading about this amazing house and the family who made it a home,” says Operations & Programs Manager Suzanna Ritz. New content will be added to these pages weekly – visitors can check the online catalog for new ideas and activities, or follow Körner’s Folly on social media to get notifications when new content is available.
“Over the past several weeks, we have appreciated a record-breaking amount of engagement through our website and social media, and look forward to providing opportunities for folks to connect to Körner’s Folly and to each other, even when we are physically apart,” says Dale Pennington. “We have also received many queries about how to support the Körner’s Folly Foundation during this time of lost revenue. Fortunately, we have in place several mechanisms through which our community can make a real impact on our organization. We encourage people to purchase advance tour tickets online – they can be used as soon as we are able to open our doors, and are redeemable through 2022. We are also grateful for online donations in any amount that will help us sustain operations. But most importantly, we ask our supporters to bear with us during this closure, keep learning and enjoying history, and be ready to gather in celebration with us when it is safe to do so.”
Körner’s Folly is currently closed to the public, but can be reached via email at info@kornersfolly.org.