Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is steeped in history, but tucked among its cobblestone streets and historic buildings lies a ghost story that has endured for centuries—the tale of the Little Red Man.
The Story Behind the Legend
The legend begins with Andreas Kremser, a small-statured Moravian shoemaker who settled in Salem in 1772. Known for his playful nature, Kremser was assigned tasks like bricklaying and chimney work. In March 1786, while digging a cellar for the Single Brothers’ House, a collapse trapped him. Though rescued, Kremser succumbed to his injuries shortly after and was laid to rest in God’s Acre Cemetery.
A Haunting Emerges
After his death, residents of the Single Brothers’ House began noticing strange occurrences. They reported hearing the tapping of a shoemaker’s hammer and, on several occasions, saw a small figure dressed in red—the attire Kremser wore at the time of his death. This spectral figure quickly earned the nickname “The Little Red Man.”
One memorable encounter involved a young girl named Betsy, who, unaware of the local ghost story, described meeting a little man in red who beckoned her to play. Tales like hers kept the legend alive for decades.
The Spirit Laid to Rest
The haunting persisted until a prominent Moravian minister performed a ritual to calm Kremser’s restless spirit. Afterward, sightings of the Little Red Man ceased, and peace returned to the Single Brothers’ House.
Legacy Today
Today, the Single Brothers’ House and God’s Acre Cemetery are part of Old Salem Museums & Gardens at 600 S Church St, Winston-Salem, NC, a living history museum that preserves the Moravian settlement. The story of the Little Red Man continues to fascinate visitors and is often shared on ghost tours, keeping the memory of Andreas Kremser—and his mysterious spirit—alive in local lore.
For anyone exploring Winston-Salem, a walk through Old Salem is a chance to step into history and perhaps catch a glimpse of a little red figure who refuses to be forgotten.
