RJR History
RJR High School
Name Richard J. Reynolds High School
Address 301 N. Hawthorne Road
City Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Mascot Demons
Colors Black and Gold
Newspaper Pine Whispers
**Richard J. Reynolds High School (often simply R.J.R. High School) in Winston-Salem N.C. is named after Richard Joshua Reynolds, the founder of Reynolds Tobacco Company. The R.J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium is adjacent to the school and is often used for school functions. R.J. Reynolds High School has proudly served the community of Winston-Salem since its opening in 1923.
**The school fulfilled the need for a new city high school after the 1913 merger of Winston and Salem which became a necessity after fire destroyed Winston High School on Cherry Street. The site for the new school was made possible through the generosity of Katherine Smith Reynolds Johnston, the widow of R.J. Reynolds.
**Construction on the school began in 1919, under the direction of Reynolda Estate architect Charles Barton Keen. The school and auditorium sit on a piece of land known as "Silver Hill" during Reynolds-Johnston's time. Original plans for the school included two grand school buildings sitting on either side of the auditorium. After the first school was finished in 1923, construction on the second building was delayed and eventually abandoned after the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
** Reynolds Auditorium and The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System is now planning to build a fine arts/performing arts center on the school grounds directly behind the Auditorium, between it and Hawthorne Road.
**The original buildings, having completed extensive renovation, have recently been designated to the National Register of Historic Places because of their architectural significance and continued contribution to the public education and cultural life of Winston-Salem. Reynolds High School has been recognized nationally for contributions in a variety of academic endeavors.
**The school fulfilled the need for a new city high school after the 1913 merger of Winston and Salem which became a necessity after fire destroyed Winston High School on Cherry Street. The site for the new school was made possible through the generosity of Katherine Smith Reynolds Johnston, the widow of R.J. Reynolds.
**Construction on the school began in 1919, under the direction of Reynolda Estate architect Charles Barton Keen. The school and auditorium sit on a piece of land known as "Silver Hill" during Reynolds-Johnston's time. Original plans for the school included two grand school buildings sitting on either side of the auditorium. After the first school was finished in 1923, construction on the second building was delayed and eventually abandoned after the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
** Reynolds Auditorium and The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System is now planning to build a fine arts/performing arts center on the school grounds directly behind the Auditorium, between it and Hawthorne Road.
**The original buildings, having completed extensive renovation, have recently been designated to the National Register of Historic Places because of their architectural significance and continued contribution to the public education and cultural life of Winston-Salem. Reynolds High School has been recognized nationally for contributions in a variety of academic endeavors.