Scope and Contents Betty Caldwell shares a colorful recollection of memories from her childhood and adult life, focusing on her experience living in the Pottstown neighborhood of Huntersville. She describes her experience attending a Rosenwald school and the days of the Huntersville Colored School, which became Torrence-Lytle High School in 1953/54. Her words describe much of the social life in Pottstown, with memories of picnics, sports, pictures, food, and the role of the AME Zion Church. Caldwell comments...

Scope and Contents In this interview Reverend Brenda Tapia, daughter of Dovie and James Howard, speaks amply on aspects of her childhood, youth, and adult life in Davidson. She gives a detailed account of living with many adults in the same house and being one of the only Black families not residing in Davidson’s “Brady Alley”. She recalls early playmates, reflecting on the time she spent playing with her white counterparts. Reverend Tapia discusses a couple major violent altercations involving Ku Klux Klan...

Scope and Contents In this oral history, Davidson and Cornelius resident Dorothy Burton shares many valuable insights about life in Davidson. Burton has lived in the Davidson and Cornelius areas for almost 80 years and worked at Davidson College for a great part of her life. Born in 1942, she talks about her early days living in a house owned by Davidson College while her mom worked at the college laundry. Burton talks about early work experiences at the college, washing dishes and helping in kitchens. She...

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Erving McClain, a Davidson-born and raised inhabitant, shares many details about her elementary and high school years in Ada Jenkins and Torrence-Lytle. She talks about her further studies, her work as a nurse, and her family. Moreover, McCain mentions her involvement with the community through different committees and her efforts to keep the Ada Jenkins Center open as a school. She also talks about the social environment on Main Street, its businesses, and people.

Scope and Contents Evelyn Carr is a lifetime Davidson resident and a pillar of the community. Born in 1931, Ms. Carr and her family originally lived in Brady’s Alley—an area that was formerly located behind Main Street. In 1946 Ms. Carr married Orlandis Carr, and after a brief stint living in Charlotte, the couple moved back to Davidson and built a house on Griffith Street where they raised ten children. Ms. Carr has always been an active member of the Davidson community and has been an advocate for affordable...

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Frank Jordan, born in Mecklenburg and having lived his early years in Iredell County, is the owner of Lake Norman Limousine Service. In this interview he offers a brief narrative of his life and the establishment of his own two businesses, a painting company and a limousine service. Jordan talks about the work underwent to renovate the Ada Jenkins Center and shares some comments about the state of Black entrepreneurship in Davidson.

Scope and Contents James Raeford, owner of “Raeford’s Barber Shop” on Main Street, gives an outline of his professional and personal experiences as an inhabitant of Davidson since 1957. He expresses much satisfaction with his life in Davidson, and comments on his participation in the community through committees and personal efforts. He also talks about the role of Black churches and faith practices in the area. Raeford’s words illustrate much about race relations in the community, pointing to events such as...

Scope and Contents LaGretta Neal discusses her family life and her lifelong connections to Davidson. Born and raised in the town, specifically in “Brady’s Alley,” she mentions being the daughter of Annie Mildred Lowery and attending Ada Jenkins Elementary School from kindergarten to the 8th grade. Similarly to most of her contemporaries, Lagretta Neal attended Torrence-Lytle High School from the 9th to 12th grades. She talks about her experiences growing up in a big family of 8 siblings, and mentions James...

Scope and Contents In this interview, Maggie Smith shares countless details about her time in Davidson, from her childhood to her life at the time of the interview. Her words illustrate a vivid picture of social life in Davidson, with mention of parties, celebrations, holidays, and town events. She is detailed when talking about her childhood and different foods she would eat then. She mentions opening “Maggie Smith’s Daycare” and maintaining it for over 10 years, taking care of many children of faculty and...

Scope and Contents In this interview, Mattie Fletcher, born in 1937 in South Carolina, talks about different aspects of her life around the areas of Davidson, Huntersville, and Mooresville. She mentions attending the Rosenwald School in Huntersville, which later becomes the Torrence-Lytle center, as well as Morrow’s Chapel in Iredell County. Ms. Fletcher recalls settling in Davidson after her dad began working at the college. She describes some of her experiences working as a Nursing Assistant at the Lawrence...