Charlotte's Urban History

[monsoon]

^I am not sure there is a connection between the two and I am not sure it had much to do with the rise of NCNB and First Union into BofA and Wachovia. In fact, I have been told, these two banks will clear each other checks in order to bypass the Fed in order to save the fees.

[Justadude]

One really cool display to see regarding Charlotte's history, if it is still there and I think it is, is on the same level of the main library uptown as the Carolina Room. They have old photos of what was on a given site, and then behind those photos (you pull the new photo out) of what now sits on that site. It is really cool though a bit sad for me to see what great buildings are now gone...

[tozmervo]

There is also a book called 'Sorting Out the New South City' by Thomas Hanchett...

[Charlotte_native]

Interesting industrial park on Statesville Avenue. The Hercules Business Park, across from where North End Square is being built, sits (with its neighboring property that used to be part of this huge complex) on 60 acres of what started in 1924 as a plant to build and ship Model T fords - operated until the Great Depression. In WWII changed into quarter master facility that shipped Army supplies all over the multi-state region and overseas. Then a Cold War missile plant that produced air defense systems, the Nike project, Ajax Missiles, Hercules Missles (hence the name today!). Disbanded and shut down in 1965 and subdivided and sold off. Currently used for warehouse, shipping and distribution, industrial park.

Most all original buildings are there -- really cool brick work and architecture on the original Ford buildings.