History of Charlotte

[KJHburg]

4 hours ago, QCxpat said:

Making Modern Charlotte, a film produced by American City Business Journals, premiered on Friday 02/22/2019 on PBS Charlotte (WTVI). 

“It’s an important history that tells the story in their own words of the business people who built modern Charlotte ... How did Charlotte go from a sleepy small town in the 70’s to a major league city today? Hear the stories of how it happened and who made it happen. It’s a remarkable story of how a city with no seashore or mountain vistas created itself into a nationally recognized and sought-after destination."

FULL FEATURE: Making Modern Charlotte - YouTube

 

Thanks for posting this.  I watched it last night and it is great history of  how Charlotte emerged from a pool of similar sized cities back in the 1960s and 70s to emerge to the nationally important city we have today.  The growth of the big banks First Union/Wachovia now Wells and NCNB/Nationsbank now Bank of Ameirca, the growth of the airport from attracting the Piedmont Airlines hub now to where we were at, growth of cultural institutions  etc.   How George Shinn originally went to get a MLB baseball team but shown the door and he went over to the NBA's office.  Charlotte and where we are now didn't happen by happenstance it was thought out and was a goal of many leaders. 

This should be required watching for everyone on UrbanPlanet Charlotte. It is hour watch in 15-20 segments if you dont have a full hour but the stories of the Group and other players is really interesting.    It is pouring down rain today Go watch it and this is Professor KJ there will be a test on Monday. 

[rancenc]

Not from Charlotte, but some historical structures from Salisbury.  The 1820 Hall House which was a academy for female students, a private residence, and was the headquarters of General Sherman when the city was occupied by Federal troops during the Civil War.  The other picture is the current Rowan Museum of History which was built in 1854 as the County Courthouse

Edited February 23, 2019 by rancenc

[rancenc]

The current Salisbury Depot which was built in 1908.  The now demolished Charlotte Deport which was on West Trade was built around the same time in the Spanish Mission style

[nakers2]

3 hours ago, rancenc said:

The current Salisbury Depot which was built in 1908.  The now demolished Charlotte Deport which was on West Trade was built around the same time in the Spanish Mission style

The Salisbury depot is actually the inspiration for the rail travel exhibit at the American History Museum in Washington DC. They have an old locomotive and the station announcements mention Charlotte, and I believe Concord as stops. As well as some smaller places a lazy researcher would have overlooked. Funny enough, another train they had on display was from Salinas, California, another place I have lived.

[tozmervo]

18 minutes ago, nakers2 said:

The Salisbury depot is actually the inspiration for the rail travel exhibit at the American History Museum in Washington DC. They have an old locomotive and the station announcements mention Charlotte, and I believe Concord as stops. As well as some smaller places a lazy researcher would have overlooked. Funny enough, another train they had on display was from Salinas, California, another place I have lived.

I'm not even kidding you when I say I'm in that museum taking a break at the cafe right now. I just saw the depot exhibit, was very cool to see NC's rail legacy represented here! (Picture not of the depot, but another display noting the Spencer maintenance yards)

[11 HouseBZ]

Fun fact: The house on the corner of Fulton and Fisher was also designed by the same architect that designed the train station. My sister and I used to work for the family back when we were early teens. I think the family may have changed, because the home has been fixed up. I also believe it's on the home tour in Salisbury. 

[KJHburg]

As promised above here is Professor KJ's pop quiz on the TV presentation of Making Modern Charlotte referenced above.  It rained all day Saturday and was the perfect time to watch this documentary on the growth of modern Charlotte.  Besides getting an A+ on the quiz the quickest person to respond with the correct answers he or she will get an exclusive 3 pack of their favorite Krispy Kreme doughnuts sorry delivery is limited to the metro Charlotte area and the test is not open to residents of Atlanta GA.  

 

1.  Were Hugh McColl of Nationsbank Bank of America fame and Ed Crutchfield of First Union Wachovia fame good friends despite running competing banks?

2.   What did Mr George Shinn want in pro sports team first?

3.  When Mr Shinn went into the owners meeting about getting an NBA team what comment really fired him up?

4. How many gates did the old Douglas Municipal Airport have? 

5.  What major relocation did Johnny Harris work with it and it was top secret back in the day and became a major SouthPark employer?

6.  How many mayors in the last 30 years came from Fourth Ward?

7.  What group started along with then Nationsbank NCNB Fourth Ward redevelopment?

Good luck and get to know Charlotte's modern history.  Seriously if you have not watched Making Modern Charlotte you need to and you will know how we became the city we are today. Answers posted after 4 pm EST. 
 

[GeauxCLT]

2 hours ago, KJHburg said:

 

1.  No

2.   MLB

3.  Only franchise Charlotte would get is Golden Arches

4. 16 (but not at the same time)

5.  Gold Bond Building Supplies

6.  Four

7.  Junior League

Truly a great watch worthy of an hour of any Charlottean much less UPer’s time.

[KJHburg]

3 hours ago, GeauxCLT said:

Truly a great watch worthy of an hour of any Charlottean much less UPer’s time.

You are all correct except for one minor point on #6 actually is was 2 mayors and 2 mayor pro tems but since Professor KJ is in a good mood WE HAVE A WINNER!  Please tell me the type of doughnuts for your 3 pack and where to deliver them.  I can not guarantee a hot doughnut delivery but they will be fresh. 

And here is one more history lesson from Old Salem in Winston Salem. 

[KJHburg]

10 hours ago, KJHburg said:

As promised above here is Professor KJ's pop quiz on the TV presentation of Making 12 Modern Charlotte referenced above.  Congratulations to @GeauxCLT  for being the quickest on the draw with the answers.   answers in RED 

1.  Were Hugh McColl of Nationsbank Bank of America fame and Ed Crutchfield of First Union Wachovia fame good friends despite running competing banks?   no they only cooperated because they both loved Charlotte and wanted it to grow and be better.  

2.   What did Mr George Shinn want in pro sports team first?    Major league baseball and when he was in NYC they quickly showed him the door 

3.  When Mr Shinn went into the owners meeting about getting an NBA team what comment really fired him up?   George Shinn the morning of the NBA owners meetings for the presentation read a Phoenix sports writer who said famously  : the only franchise Charlotte will get is a McDonalds!   that fired Mr Shinn up going into the meeting.  

4. How many gates did the old Douglas Municipal Airport have?    12 gates but you could not park 12 planes at all the gates LOL 

5.  What major relocation did Johnny Harris work with it and it was top secret back in the day and became a major SouthPark employer?   Gold Bond which is now National Gypsum when they were relocating from Buffalo NY 

6.  How many mayors in the last 30 years came from Fourth Ward?     2 mayors Sue Myrick and Harvey Gantt and they lived 2 doors down from each other and 2 mayor pro tems 

7.  What group started along with then Nationsbank NCNB Fourth Ward redevelopment?   literally a few ladies from the Junior League 

Good luck and get to know Charlotte's modern history.  Seriously if you have not watched Making Modern Charlotte you need to and you will know how we became the city we are today. . 
 

 

[GeauxCLT]

^Thank you for posting the original link KJ. And your regular pics of the progress around town is reward enough - no 3 pack delivery needed. I will do my best to make your next anniversary breakfast though!

[QCxpat]

Nice little story in March issue of Charlotte Magazine - "One Shot:  Remembering UNC Charlotte's Final Four appearance in 1977"

Fun Facts:

• Cost of a ticket in 1977 - $14
• The UNCC men's basketball budget in 1977: $180,305.  Today:  $3.3M
• Number of Final Four appearances in 49ers history: 1
• Number of years Cedric Maxwell played in the NBA: 11

Link:  http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Charlotte-Magazine/March-2019/By-the-Numbers-Remembering-UNCCs-Final-Four-Appearance-in-1977/

Edited February 28, 2019 by QCxpat

[QCxpat]

Jodie Valade of  Charlotte Magazine interviews Adria Focht, Director of the Charlotte Museum of History

Adria Focht's says -

• "A lot of people think historic  preservation is just an expense, when in fact is serves economic development in a lot of different ways.  If you preserve a historic building rather than tear it down and build something else, it's actually cheaper, and that supports entrepreneurship and small businesses.  ...  And then it also preserves the authenticity of a place.  That's not just a special, good-feeling, quality-of-life thing  ...  Cities that are authentic with their history and have those places preserved draw tourists and young people attracted to places that have soul."
• "Every 50 years, Charlotte becomes unrecognizable.  ...  And that sense of place and your memories of that place are what connect people to their hometown and make them care about it.  It's almost like a family member in a way, having those historic structures that represent your past."

Link:  http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Charlotte-Magazine/March-2019/Life-Lessons-Adria-Focht-Director-of-Charlotte-Museum-of-History/

[JRNYP2C]

Good article!  I know her and she is awesome!

[KJHburg]

Went to the Levine Museum of the New South today (free BofA day) and I really do love that museum.  Since we were all talking about banking here are some historical points and I did not find anything about the Georgia legislature helping NC out in terms of rising to a banking hub LOL.  Anyway this museum should be required viewing for UPers as it tells the story of the rise of Charlotte since 1860s.    Sports history too.  and the last photo shows a great historical NC product Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

A little bit about the country music rivalry between the QC and Nashville too.   It the 1920s to 1940s it was Charlotte the capital of country music. 

Photo of the skyline from 1976

[KJHburg]

Uptown does have historical buildings and as I have said they are swallowed up by our tall skyline and much bigger buildings.  Here is another example the elegant Dunhill Hotel, the Spirit Square building (formerly First Baptist Church) and the Tryon House apartments and other buildings along 500 block of N Tryon.  I hope all these are around a long time from now. 

[SgtCampsalot]

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

Uptown does have historical buildings and as I have said they are swallowed up by our tall skyline and much bigger buildings.  Here is another example the elegant Dunhill Hotel, the Spirit Square building (formerly First Baptist Church) and the Tryon House apartments and other buildings along 500 block of N Tryon.  I hope all these are around a long time from now. 

 

As long as the old buildings are not torn down, I am very excited for how N Tryon will feel in the next decade. Library/Spirit Square, Hal Marshall County land, and Publix will fill in almost all of the gaps, making N Tryon a nice mix of new and old

[Nick2]

"This picture from 1928 shows the grand opening of a new bridge across the Catawba River from Charlotte to Gaston County. The bridge was part of Wilkinson Boulevard, the first four lane paved highway in the state, which opened in 1926. Shared from Sean Baxter"

Source

Edited March 6, 2019 by Nick2

[nicholas]

11 minutes ago, Nick2 said:

"This picture from 1928 shows the grand opening of a new bridge across the Catawba River from Charlotte to Gaston County. The bridge was part of Wilkinson Boulevard, the first four lane paved highway in the state, which opened in 1926. Shared from Sean Baxter"

Source

Is that the bridge that's still in use?

[Nick2]

29 minutes ago, nicholas said:

Is that the bridge that's still in use?

Yep it sure is. That's why they're planning on replacing it soon along with adding tracks for the silver line to cross the Catawba.

[JRNYP2C]

Yep this one got moved up the "important" list of projects.  From what I have read, the construction is supposed to start either this year or early 2020.  This bridge is WOEFULLY out of date, and at times, with the potholes, I feel like my car may fall through into the Catawba!!

[SgtCampsalot]

39 minutes ago, JRNYP2C said:

Yep this one got moved up the "important" list of projects.  From what I have read, the construction is supposed to start either this year or early 2020.  This bridge is WOEFULLY out of date, and at times, with the potholes, I feel like my car may fall through into the Catawba!!

Yikes I've never been over that bridge, I should take the family out there for a historical field trip before it's gone!

[nicholas]

On 3/5/2019 at 11:15 PM, Nick2 said:

Yep it sure is. That's why they're planning on replacing it soon along with adding tracks for the silver line to cross the Catawba.

I love that bridge.  I know it's old and all, but I hope they keep it.  New bridges just don't look as timeless as that.

[archiham04]

It looks from that picture that either the lake was not yet filled, or had been lowered.  It makes me wonder if the bridge was constructed because the lake would have submerged the old bridge.

[tozmervo]

2 hours ago, archiham04 said:

It looks from that picture that either the lake was not yet filled, or had been lowered.  It makes me wonder if the bridge was constructed because the lake would have submerged the old bridge.

Doesn't the bridge predate the dams by thirty years?