Things newcomers might not know about Charlotte (Pineville, Catawba: houses, theater) - Page 10 - City-Data Forum

Art1979 · 10-18-2008, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WonderBooger

Isn't there a Charlotte, TN?

Suffice it to say, there's a Charlotte, MI, too. I had told an acquaintance from MI that I had relo'd to Charlotte, and she wrinkled her nose up and said "Why? It's so small. There's nothing there." I guess I'll need to be more specific in the future.

jlat · 10-18-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Ron

I'll bet we knew each other back then. Do you remember the hardware store and the barber shop across Bradford Dr from Thomasboro Elementary school? My dad worked in that Barber shop from about 196o until he bought his own shop in about 1968. I spent all my lunch money in the soda shop that was in front of the school gym buying comic books. Used to go to Counts Grocery store on my bike when my mom needed something.

My wife went to Harding, we lived in Ashley Park and then Westerly Hills until we moved to Wesley Chapel in '88.

All the best,

Ron

Yes, we'd go to the hardware store and get cokes and candy . You could by pea shooters there too. I bought my first bag of chewing tobacco there when I was about 11. I got my hair cut in that barber shop about a million times, so I bet he cut my hair. They had a really cool old cash register. The soda shop across the street sold pizza and we would go there every once in a while. If we needed something from the store, we went to Counts on bikes too. My best friend then worked there for a while, and was a delivery boy on that old bicycle they used to have parked out front. We also went to Jeep's Superette down hoskins road.

Wow! Stroll down memory lane.

Radio Ron · 10-19-2008, 01:19 AM

jlat, what year did you graduate from HS? I can't help but believe we know each other. We sure walked a lot of the same ground.

Ron

jlat · 10-21-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Ron

jlat, what year did you graduate from HS? I can't help but believe we know each other. We sure walked a lot of the same ground.

Ron

West Charlotte Class of '76. We got bussed to Northwest Jr. and West Charlotte HS, starting in '71. My neighborhood (Beechwood) got reassigned again in '75 and most of them actually graduated from Harding, but I stayed at WC because most of my friends came from north Charlotte and Derita and I wanted to hang with them. It was kinda funny, I just went back to WC, showed up and went to class, never transferred or anything. I was the only kid in our neighborhood that didn't go to Harding and nobody ever said a word. I lost track of a lot of the Beechwood/Westchester/Thomasboro/Hoskins kids after that.

Radio Ron · 10-22-2008, 01:58 AM

You are several years younger then me, I graduated in '71 from West Meck.
My senior year at West we were the first class to be part of forced busing. A lot of
parents kept their kids out of school for the first few weeks, even those that weren't bused.
I went to school, I didn't want to take a chance of messing up my graduating.

Ron

urbancharlotte · 10-22-2008, 08:22 AM

Many newcomers don't seem to think that there is an urban side to Charlotte. I know this town is suburban by NYC standards, but I am often amazed by the reaction people have when they see Charlotte for the first time. I am a NYC native and Charlotte raised. My wife is from Kentucky. The first time she saw Charlotte, her first words were "wow, this is like a city!!!!". Her parents had the same reaction the first time they visited. As a result, my wife and I have started a series of youtube videos that highlight some of Charlotte's more urban side. We are always looking for suggestions and comments. We add videos every week. So far we have about 50 videos and we have only been at this for a little over a week. My hope is that anytime a newcomer inquires about what Charlotte is like, we could start posting them links to videos like mine. Words and opinions are great!!!! Pictures are worth a thousand words!!! Videos are priceless!!! Here is my link www.youtube.com/urbancharlotte. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!!!

Radio Ron · 10-22-2008, 08:57 AM

Your URL didn't work, this one will,
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Ron

urbancharlotte · 10-22-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radio Ron

Your URL didn't work, this one will,
YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Ron

Thanks a bunch Ron!!!

taz31553 · 12-07-2008, 05:04 AM

I was just thinking about Kilgo's Canteen!! When I was in JR-HI I got the chance to be a "go-go" dancer on one of the shows and it was SO much fun. I was on the show at other times but just dancing in the crowd. Being a "go-go" dancer was really something back then!.I'd love to get some of those achive tapes.
After dance class we'd stop at the Dairy Queen on Central Ave.
Park'n'Shop on Wilkinson Blvd...never thought I'd see it go. I could never make myself stare at those twins..I'd have been so ashamed of myself.
My aunt owned property near Eastland Mall so I took my daughter, little girl then, through the woods to see it being built. It was so grand and now it's gone to pot.
I lived on Tuckaseegee Rd. and went to Tuckaseegee Elem, Wilson JR-HI, and then to West Meck. I cheered for the teams but now I understand they can't be called the West Meck Indians anymore. I still have my rearbooks and they will always be there for me to reminise.

Native_Son · 12-07-2008, 07:10 AM

Charlotte tidbits:

There used to be a US Mint in Charlotte (thus, Mint Street)

The confederate Naval Headquarters was in Mecklenburg County on the Catawba River... it sat on the river right where the USNWC (whitewater park) is now. There was also a powder works there (located on the tall hill right in the middle of the park) that blew up twice within 5 years of it's construction).

It is believed that Hernando DeSoto came through Mecklenburg County on his way to the east coast from the Mississippi River.

Naturalist John Lawson was the first European to describe this region in detail. He has many writings you can access if you're interested in the oldest known history of this area. He noted a "Carolina Buffalo" and was particularly intrigued by the opossum, which he described as a wonder of nature. He also observed that the region was "abounding in many and delightsome rivulets (creeks)" which spurred armies of millwrights to settle the region.