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1941 - Fighter Pilots

April 21, 1941 - Morris Field is dedicated. New York City's Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia speaks at the ceremony. This facility which adjoins Charlotte's Douglas Airport, begins to train pilots and repairmen of the 29th Air Service Group as U.S. involvement in World War II approaches. Mecklenburg families extend hospitality to these servicemen, bringing them to church and home for meals. When the war is over, Morris Field is turned over to the city and made part of Charlotte's Douglas Airport. Morris Field Dedicated

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1950 - Korean Conflict

June 25, 1950 - At the end of World War II, Korea was divided in two. Now, Communist North Korea invades South Korea. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops help defend South Korea. Neither side will win the war. But after three years, a truce is declared although no peace treaty will be signed. Nearly 50 years later, U.S. troops will still patrol the border between North and South Korea.

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1962 - Lake Norman

March 4, 1962  - Water trickles into a lake bed that has been dug along the Catawba River. By the time the dam is completed at a river crossing called Cowan's Ford in May, Lake Norman will be on its way to becoming North Carolina's largest man-made lake. It has been designed to provide water power that helps generate electricity for Mecklenburg County. In the future, homes and recreational areas be developed along Lake Norman. 

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1949 - Rebuilding Lives

The veterans, men and women who fought in World War II, are returning home. To educate them, teacher Bonnie Cone pushes for new schools. Charlotte College is for whites, and holds classes at the old Central High School. Carver College is for blacks. Its classes are held at night at Second Ward High School. By 1963, Carver will become part of Central Piedmont Community College. Charlotte College will evolve into the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1965. The first registration of students for Carver College took place on September 16, 1949.

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September 16, 1949

1941 - Leisurely Sundays

June 4, 1941 - Many Southern cities still have rules, called blue laws, that prohibit certain activities on Sundays. When Charlotte's City Council repeals some of the blue laws, the Queen City joins the trend of most other Southern towns that now allow outdoor sports and movies on Sundays. 

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1954 - Changing Times

May 17, 1954 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules in a case called Brown vs. The Board of Education that segregating, or separating students and schools according to race is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. But it will take more than the court's ruling to achieve equality in our schools. Years of anger, frustration and violence will follow. 

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1974 - Leading the Way on School Integration

October 15, 1974 - Nationally, Charlotte becomes known as the city that made integration work. School children write letters to Boston's newspaper, the Globe, and share their stories. After the letters appear in the Globe, the children are invited to visit Boston, a city still grappling with the problems of integration. 

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1948 - Kuester Dies

Maarch 12, 1948 - While planning this year's Meck Dec Day celebration, Charlotte loses its most enthusiastic promoter. Clarence Kuester dies of a heart attack. LeGette Blythe's play, Shout Freedom, will be performed in Kuester's memory as citizens remember Mecklenburg's 1775 Declaration of Independence. But nothing can ever replace the man lovingly nick-named "Booster" Kuester.

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March 12, 1948

1942 - The Carolina Israelite

The modern, or reform, Jewish congregation separates from Temple Israel, which is more traditional. The new temple will be called Beth El. While many Charlotte Jews will distinguish themselves through civic and charitable work, no one will cause more controversy than Harry Golden. Although once a writer for the Charlotte Observer, Golden begins publishing his own paper, The Carolina Israelite, from his home in the Elizabeth neighborhood. He will win both national acclaim and disdain for his editorials against racial segregation.Temple Beth El

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1954 - Ike Visits Charlotte

May 18, 1954 - More than 60,000 people crowd into Charlotte's Freedom Park to hear President Dwight Eisenhower speak. His visit is part of the annual Meck Dec Day commemoration. Choirs sing as citizens celebrate Mecklenburg's 1775 declaration of independence from British rule. President Eisenhower at Freedom Park

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