April marks the 100th anniversary of The Piedmont & Northern Railroad. Cousin to the streetcar, this electric, interurban railroad connected Charlotte with textile towns in North Carolina and the South Carolina upcountry. The P&N, which began as a project of James Buchanan Duke and the company now known as Duke Energy, was essential for developing business and bringing wealth to the region. Today, plans are afoot to revive part of the line running west from Panthers Stadium with the much-loved vintage Charlotte Trolley.
Learn more about this fascinating part of Charlotte’s history at a free program. “Mr. Duke’s Railway: The Piedmont & Northern” takes place on Sunday, April 1, 3 pm, at The Levine Museum of the New South. The speaker is Bill Jeffers, researcher for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Reservations are required. Call 704/-714-4445 or email ecovington@tlwf.orgto reserve.
“Mr. Duke’s Railway: The Piedmont & Northern” is part of the Explore History! series sponsored by The Duke Mansion and Levine Museum of the New South. For more information, visit www.dukemansion.org or www.museumofthenewsouth.org.
