What were Charlotteans talking about in April of 1947?
The opening of the new Manor Theatre for one!
This ran on Monday, April 7 so the theater opened Friday, April 11, 1947.
Are these Springer Spaniels?
A determined-looking fox.
A Coca-Cola print dress!
1500 W. Morehead is where The Burger Company now stands.
Slash those weeds that are higher than a man's head!
I'm not posting the answers. I think we can handle it...
This is where Capital Grille is now, at 5th Street.
I love the style of '40s ads.
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8 comments:
1947: Remember that year is not difficult. I was a very young boy recovering from Polio yet able to play beside our home which was located in the second block of Central Avenue. Playing in the red dirt beside the house, playing with small metal cars and planes reliving the stories of World War Two that I had read about in the Charlotte Observer. Leaning to read with the help of my parents and grandparents as I was physically unable to do the many things that the other kids nearby was doing. A good place, at that time, for a kids to grown up. Living across the street was a young friend, his dad was head of the city of county tax department, next door, a young friends dad owned the Packard Auto Dealership and his mom often took some of us to school (Elizabeth Elementary)when the weather was bad. During the cold winter of 1947 the air was often full of soot because most everyone heated their homes with coal or coke (look it up)and the black ash often fell on freshly washed items hanging on the clotheslines. I spent much of my free time either playing in the Rose Garden, a beautiful place ruined by the city planers in 1945, along with the mayor who owned a fur business and wanted the road to run by his business (city history, look it up). Also, playing in Independence Park, reading the Observer front to back due to the damage to my body by polio. Taught to read by my parents and grandparents during my almost complete paralysis. Yes Grandparents who lived with us, something many families had to do during the years coming out of the great depression and world war two. Really miss the Fire Chief's siren every day at lunch time as he turned it on when he crossed the intersection of 7th street and Davidson, speeding down 7th, turning up Central and out Central to his home. Oh, I also remember the two low spots in the middle of the street where the trolly tracks were removed some years ago, and for the most part, traffic was so light we sat on the steps to see how many cars we could count in ten or fifteen minutes. Sometimes we counted as many as twenty to thirty especially in the early evening before we started playing "redlight" or "Simon Says". A
wonderful place to grow up. Independence Park, the Rose Garden, No cars in the streets no shootings every night, etc. We left our doors and windows open during the summer, parents left stuff in their cars with the windows down and the doors unlocked. The police were great, dad knew most by name and often the county police chief came by after work and played cards or just talked with dad and others that were visiting.
I remember so much about that location that even now when I drive up Central Avenue from 7th Street, just as I get to the point of where I lived, I sort of choke up a bit. I guess we humans just as other animals have the homing magnet in our brains that seemingly know where we started out in life.
Wow, great story Anon 8:40. How is your health now?
Wow!
What a great job. How much do you get paid for cutting ads out of old papers and putting them online? Where can I apply for a job like that?
Jay1937 - what a fascinating post! Thank you so much.
Great story, Jay1937! As a Charlotte native, I love hearing stories about my city.
As a side note, it would be really nice if people would keep their negative comments to themselves. It's a lesson I learned as a small child.
That WAS a great story. I don't remember the Rose Garden but was around Independence Park in the 50's. You're right. The lack of vehicles and noise especially at night was taken for granted. Hope you are healthy and happy these days.
Reading these stories is fun for me, a Charlotte native. But I'm only 27 so my experience growing up in Charlotte was a little different. Still, I love my city and this blog/community makes me feel more connected to it!
Audrey - thank you for the nice comment, youngster! ;>) Maria
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