Newcomers: Know much Charlotte history?
Do you have to be from Charlotte to be interested in Charlotte’s history?
Not if you work at the Charlotte Museum of History, home to the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, which dates to 1774 and is Mecklenburg’s oldest surviving residence.
When I visited recently to write today’s column about ghost tours at local historic sites, I met with three newcomers who joined the museum’s staff shortly after moving here from other cities.
Anne Raman, a Philadelphia native, moved here in May 2006 from Columbia. Her background is in the arts and culture – she’s been a curator and gallery director – so she looked for a job that had a sense of place when her husband’s job brought her to the Charlotte area. She became the museum’s community relations manager.
“It just seemed to be such a natural fit to work with Charlotte’s history,” she said. And she was particularly interested to learn that this area’s early settlers originally traveled down the Great Wagon Road from her native Pennsylvania.
“I like to say I took my own great wagon road here,” she said with a laugh.
Also recently joining the staff was Christy Williams, a Chicago native who arrived here in July. Her job as the museum’s executive assistant and special events coordinator fit with her background from her previous job, working for Walt Disney World in Florida, but it was Charlotte’s present more than its past that lured her here.
“I really love the South. I love the weather. Charlotte seems to have it all,” she said.
The most recent arrival is Jan McCormick, the director of education, who moved here Sept. 15. The native of the Lake Placid area of New York has a masters in history, so it’s not surprising that she ended up at the museum.
“Everywhere I move,” she said, “the history is fascinating.”
If you’re a transplant, have you had a chance to learn much about this area’s history? What do you find interesting, and what would you like to know more about?
Not if you work at the Charlotte Museum of History, home to the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite, which dates to 1774 and is Mecklenburg’s oldest surviving residence.
When I visited recently to write today’s column about ghost tours at local historic sites, I met with three newcomers who joined the museum’s staff shortly after moving here from other cities.
Anne Raman, a Philadelphia native, moved here in May 2006 from Columbia. Her background is in the arts and culture – she’s been a curator and gallery director – so she looked for a job that had a sense of place when her husband’s job brought her to the Charlotte area. She became the museum’s community relations manager.
“It just seemed to be such a natural fit to work with Charlotte’s history,” she said. And she was particularly interested to learn that this area’s early settlers originally traveled down the Great Wagon Road from her native Pennsylvania.
“I like to say I took my own great wagon road here,” she said with a laugh.
Also recently joining the staff was Christy Williams, a Chicago native who arrived here in July. Her job as the museum’s executive assistant and special events coordinator fit with her background from her previous job, working for Walt Disney World in Florida, but it was Charlotte’s present more than its past that lured her here.
“I really love the South. I love the weather. Charlotte seems to have it all,” she said.
The most recent arrival is Jan McCormick, the director of education, who moved here Sept. 15. The native of the Lake Placid area of New York has a masters in history, so it’s not surprising that she ended up at the museum.
“Everywhere I move,” she said, “the history is fascinating.”
If you’re a transplant, have you had a chance to learn much about this area’s history? What do you find interesting, and what would you like to know more about?
posted by Leigh at
3:19 PM
16 Comments:
Personally I like where Charlotte's going. I also personally don't care about its past. Most of it has been knocked down anyway.
It's a city of the NEW South. That's what I like about it. Clean, glimmering and new. I've had enough of the old dilapidated crap while in the North East.
Charlotte, love this town !
I havent many people from Charlotte who are from Charlotte!
It's nice to move in a city where everyone is new.
I meet a lot of people who discover new things about Charlotte all the time.
This native likes where Charlotte's going and likes the glimmering new, too, a lot. I still think it's important to know our history-you know, know where we've been so we'll know where we are going.
It's always great to hear newcomers say nice things about Charlotte. Thanks :)
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Did Y all hear that McClatchey may sell the Old Downtown Charlotte observer building and build new in Steele Creek area. Gary Pruitt is getting the works in plan after the Bankruptcy chapter 11
The Observer isn't going anywhere you fool.
Know your history or be doomed to repeat mistakes of the past! Charlotte has much to learn.
^
So I sure as hell hope with that comment that you didn't vote AGAIN for Bush this last time around ?
NEVER voted for ANY Bush - but thanks for asking!
I heard WACHOVIA is going to lay off 5000 people and BOFA is moving to New York with all Charlotte jobs but leaving everyone here to the soup line; Charlotte is starting to feel what the rest of the country is going through.
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This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Here we go again with the negative post. Please read blog before posting. The post after the last three post was off topic, complaining as usual. Wachovia is only laying off 200 and I do not think Bank of America is going anywhere.
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Puckett's Farm Equipment...a true piece of Derita history.
http://www.puckettsfarm.com
Bill Monroe recorded here, as did Elvis. The building that housed the studio downtown has been demolished.
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