Winston-Salem Guitar-Maker's Workshop Burns Down

A loose flue from a woodstove appears to have caused the fire that destroyed the workshop of a well-known Winston-Salem instrument maker yesterday. As WFDD's Michael Burke reports, 20 to 30 guitars built by Steve “Wish” Wishnevsky were damaged by the fire.

The fire began during the snowstorm around 2 a.m. Tuesday. Harry Brown, assistant chief of the Winston-Salem Fire Department, said the building was fully engulfed in flames when the fire trucks arrived. According to the Winston Salem Journal, the building was an old model-T garage that had been built in the 1920's. The workshop was about 1,000 square feet.

Wishnevsky is the organizer of the Winston-Salem Shuffle, a monthly talent contest held at Krankie's coffee shop. He was an early participant in the Old Time String Band revival in the 1970's and studied musical instrument making with David Sturgill, an instrument maker featured in the Foxfire book series.