• By Todd Luck
• Posted Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Stroble Farm Historic Marker unveiled in Pfafftown

The historic marker for the Donald & Virginia Stroble Farm was unveiled in Pfafftown on Sunday by the Forsyth County Historic Resources Commission.

This was the Historic Resources Commission’s 65th historic marker. Speakers included County Commissioner Vice Chair Don Martin and NC Rep. Amber Baker, along with a granddaughter of the Strobles, Donna Stroble Pittman, and Donna Coram, one of the current owners of the property.

In 1936, Donald and Virginia Stroble purchased a 3-acre farm from a neighbor who wanted electricity in their home. Duke Power would only run lines if two or more homes existed in the same area. The Stroble home was built in 1937 and was constructed from stone found in the farm’s fields. Virginia Stroble was inspired by the Reynolda House, which used the same kind of stone.

The Strobles were well known in the Pfafftown community. Don Stroble, known as the “Mayor of Pfafftown,” worked at the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel until his death in 1942.

Virginia Stroble raised their five children and fostered over one hundred other children through the Forsyth County Social Services, many of whom had special needs. She was also a member of the National Rose Society and other garden clubs.

The family had pigs, cows, horses, turkeys, and chickens on the farm, allowing them to be self-sufficient following the Great Depression. The farm was owned by the Stroble family until 2001, and still retains its original outbuildings, including a greenhouse, horse barn, pig pen, and chicken coop.

The Stroble property continues to be a small working farm today. The current owners have constructed a greenhouse to grow various vegetables and pumpkins for which they host an annual pumpkin patch. The community enjoys the farm’s chickens, goats, hayrides and apple orchard.

View more photos from the event.