, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was the home of Katharine and R.J. Reynolds. Involved in both the design and construction, Katharine envisioned a progressive, self sustaining country farm and estate built upon the selected 1,000 acre land outside of Winston-Salem. Katharine hired landscape engineers Buckenham and Miller to draw up the master plan, renowned architect Charles Barton Keen of Philadelphia to design the central house or bungalow, and Thomas Sears to plan the gardens. Construction took eight years and when the Reynolds family moved in December 1917, Reynolda was home to a farm complete with the latest in technology and agricultural practices, a dairy, recreational facilities, and a school. After Katharine died in 1924, the estate was held in trust until 1934 when Mary, Katharine and R.J's daughter, and husband Charles Babcock Sr, acquired Reynolda House. They worked to modernize the estate and eventually donated much of the land until a museum was opened in 1967.
Philanthropy
As a woman of privilege and wealth, she sought social progress and progressive reform, as evidenced in her push for reforms in the tobacco factory. These included amenities such as hot lunches and water fountains to a nursery for working women. In addition, she was an active member of the Young Women's Christian Association which provided educational and recreational opportunities for young working women, and served as President of the local Winston-Salem chapter in 1917. During World War I, through the R.J Reynolds tobacco company, she made monetary contributions to the Red Cross to aid in shelter,food, and supplies overseas as well as formed a local chapter with several other prominent women. She was also active in the American Fund for the French Wounded, donating supplies and money and reviewing monthly reports and balance sheets for the organization as well as the Woman's Committee, serving as state chairman for a sub-organization of this war time committee. Outside of her extensive organizational donations, she donated to many religious causes, helping build churches and supporting missionary activities and programs.
Personal life
Katharine was married to tobacco tycoon R.J Reynolds from 1905 to 1918. The two had four children together: Richard Joshua Reynolds Jr., Mary Katharine Reynolds, Nancy Susan Reynolds and Zachary Smith Reynolds. During the completion of construction of Reynolda House in 1917, R.J became ill and died in July 1918. Katharine would go on to marry school superintendent J. Edward Johnston in June 1921. The two had two children together, one stillborn daughter and J. Edward Johnston Jr. born May 20, 1924. However, due to complications of an embolism caused by this childbirth, Katharine would pass away three days later at the age of 43 on May 23, 1924.
Legacy
An honors scholarship exists in her name at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Known as the Katharine Smith Reynolds Scholarship, it grants honor student recipients funding for community service involvement as well as internship and study abroad programs and opportunities. In 2016, the Kimpton Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina opened a restaurant named after Katharine called The Katharine Brasserie and Bar.
