News Columns & Blogs

Patrolman Kelly’s Invention

Charlotte,NC police officer invents an interchangeable sign in 1966. The sign was used in traffic emergencies to alert drivers.

Retro Charlotte

Toughman Contest: “I’m gonna knock him out”

Amateur boxers vied for prize money in the local Toughman Contests in Charlotte, NC in the 1980s. The first contests were at the Charlotte Coliseum and later moved to Park Center.

Retro Charlotte

1965: Myers Park’s thug trouble

In 1965 the wealthy Charlotte neighborhood of Myers Park was plagued by vandalism, harassment and crime by teenagers. A Charlotte police officer came to the rescue.

Retro Charlotte

Love Valley: Iredell’s “Wild West”

Iredell County's Love Valley has brought the Wild West to NC since the 1950s. Located near Statesville it continues to attract horse lovers and free spirits.

Retro Charlotte

Mystery of the missing mall monkey

An organ grinder’s monkey escaped in 1978 from a mall opening in Charlotte, NC. The monkey was frightened and ran into woods near Tyvola and I-77 and was never seen again.

Retro Charlotte

Flying Tigers: First international flight to Charlotte

Flying Tigers cargo carrier brought Charlotte, NCs first international flight to Charlotte’s Douglas Airport in April, 1981. The carrier was bought by Federal Express in 1988.

Retro Charlotte

CMPD’s Lost and Found: a ham and a tombstone

Charlotte, NC police department stores evidence of crimes as well as some odd recovered stolen items. Retro Charlotte takes a look back at a story and photo from 1982.

Retro Charlotte

Cleveland County’s Bigfoot Jr.

Cleveland County, NC residents searched for a mysterious creature similar to Bigfoot in 1979. They nicknamed him Knobby and blamed him for breaking the neck of a goat in Casar, NC.

Mark Washburn

Your furriest mistake can be your greatest blessing

She is a writer, and since I was a mistake, she gave me my name: Typo.

Retro Charlotte

1935: Southern Railway train smashes into hotel

A Southern Railway passenger train flew off the tracks in Charlotte, NC in 1935, killing two and hitting a hotel.

Retro Charlotte

Murder at the Alamo Plaza Motel

The Alamo Plaza motel in Charlotte, NC was the scene of a double murder in 1988. The motel was a flophouse that was a haven for prostitutes and drug dealers.

Retro Charlotte

Dilworth homes, then and now

Dilworth was Charlotte, NC’s first streetcar suburb and is still a popular neighborhood. Many beautiful old homes still exist, some of which are historic.

Retro Charlotte

1890s: Swindles and death (and an elopement)

Charlotte Observer stories with the phrase “last seen” about missing people, deaths and criminals in the 1890s. Idea from NPRs All Things Considered story about newspaper ads after Civil War looking for members of slave families.

Retro Charlotte

Jaycee Jollies at Radio Center

In 1955 Charlotte Jaycees put on annual variety show at Radio Center on South Boulevard.

Retro Charlotte

1955: Oscar winner prediction meant free movie pass

1955 Charlotte NC had plenty of movies and dining options to choose from academy award and oscar movie predictions contest.

Retro Charlotte

1972: Trade Street Pawn Shops

Four pawn shops within a block of each other uptown or downtown Charlotte, NC in the 1970s

Retro Charlotte

Tallyho! It’s the Mecklenburg Hounds Club

The Mecklenburg Hounds Club grounds were on Tom Short Road off Providence Road-West. According to news reports the group was active in the 1970s and 1980s, hosting competitions, galas, charity functions and fox hunts. (The Hounds “hunted” for fun -- no foxes were harmed.) Take a look at this 1980 Observer story - then jump over to the slideshow!

Retro Charlotte