Blowout celebrations planned for Meck Dec milestone

Plus: Aldersgate to vote on merger this month; Charlotte's med school admits first students; 🎧 New Ledger podcast about turning research into business; Fire destroys Morehead cocktail bar

Mar 17, 2025

Good morning! Today is Monday, March 17, 2025. ☘️ You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.

Need to subscribe — or upgrade your Ledger e-newsletter subscription? Details here.

Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by SouthernEEZ:

SouthernEEZ is the year-round choice of HOA, multi-family & commercial properties, and builders & homeowners across the Charlotte-Fort Mill-Rock Hill metro. Upfront pricing. Locally owned & operated. Licensed, bonded and insured.

Want to celebrate 250 years of American independence ahead of the rest of the country? Your chance is coming in May — re-enactments, festivals, road race, bike ride and more

Meck Dec Day (May 20) has been celebrated in Mecklenburg County for more than a century. While historians disagree on the document’s authenticity, the day celebrates the 1775 signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which is said to be the precursor to the more famous Declaration of Independence. This year is the 250th anniversary. (Postcard from 1908 courtesy of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library)

By John Short

Charlotte is gearing up for a major celebration in May commemorating the 250th anniversary of one of the city’s most defining historical moments: the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

While the anniversary is marked with a small ceremony each year, honoring the date noted on North Carolina’s flag, plans are underway to hold an expanded lineup of events this year — including historical re-enactments, a festival, a road race and bike ride and even a moot court debate over the document’s authenticity.

One notable highlight: The one-room wooden courthouse where the document is said to have been signed will be reconstructed at its original location at Trade and Tryon streets for a re-enactment and reading of the Meck Dec on May 20, followed by the ceremonial firing of cannons.

First in freedom: The extended roster of events may be the first major celebration of 250 years of American independence, predating the nation’s official 250thanniversary of independence in July 2026.

Local historians believe that Charlotte revolutionaries declared themselves “free and independent” from Britain in the document in May 1775 — more than a year before the much more widely known and verifiable Declaration of Independence signed in Philadelphia in July 1776. The Meck Dec, the story goes, was delivered to the Continental Congress in 1775 but was considered too inflammatory, and the idea of independence from Britain too premature.

Many historians are skeptical of the claim because it is based largely on recollections recorded decades after the fact and not contemporaneously. It’s an enduring debate — and one that helps draw people into a better understanding of the area’s history.

“Many people think Charlotte is a new city and lacks history,” said Kendall Kendrick, chair of Mecklenburg 250, the official county commission for America 250 North Carolina. “But our city’s past is incredibly valuable. We played a crucial role in the fight for American independence, and sharing those stories helps us connect with this place and each other.”

The 250th anniversary of the Meck Dec offers a unique opportunity to reflect on Charlotte’s role in shaping America’s founding ideals of liberty and self-governance. Historically, Meck Dec celebrations were larger than July 4 festivities, drawing U.S. presidents, grand parades and even a recreation of Capt. James Jack’s famous ride for the 1976 Bicentennial.

Why does it matter today?

Charlotte’s identity is deeply rooted in its rebellious history. During the Revolutionary War, British General Lord Cornwallis famously called the city a “hornet’s nest of rebellion” after encountering fierce resistance from local patriots. That legacy endures today, with the hornet’s nest symbol appearing on police badges, sports teams and city emblems.

Though the original document was reportedly lost in an 1800 fire, prominent figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams noted the widespread belief in Mecklenburg’s early push for independence.

Meck Dec-related events

The celebrations, put on by Charlotte Center City Partners and the May 20th Society, begin two weeks before Meck Dec Day, offering free opportunities for Charlotteans to explore the city’s revolutionary history. The list includes:

Saturday, May 10:

Trail of History Festival (10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Elizabeth Park). Celebrate Charlotte’s rich past with local history exhibits, art, music, and food at the site of Captain James Jack’s statue.
MeckMile Road Race (American Legion Memorial Stadium). A one-mile race saluting Captain Jack’s legendary ride. The event’s logo features a quill pen as a tribute to the Meck Dec signers.

Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18:

Voices from the Past (10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Settlers’ Cemetery). Historical interpreters will share the stories of Charlotteans who played key roles in the fight for independence.
Captain Jack Bike Ride (Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m., Olde Mecklenburg Brewery). A group ride through Charlotte’s historic sites, hosted by the May 20th Society and Queen City Bicycles.

Monday, May 19:

Moot Court Debate (Federal Courthouse, 401 W. Trade St.). A legal debate examining the authenticity and implications of the Meck Dec.

Tuesday, May 20:

Commemoration ceremony (12-2 p.m., Independence Square, Trade and Tryon streets). The annual event sponsored by Charlotte Center City Partners celebrates the historic 1775 declaration in which local leaders proclaimed their freedom from British rule.
Meck Dec 250 Exhibit Opening (Charlotte Museum of History). This exhibit traces Charlotte’s journey from 1775 to today, highlighting the Meck Dec’s enduring significance. [This article was edited on May 15, 2025, to correct the date of the Meck Dec 250 exhibit opening.]

➡️ More info at the May 20th Society

John Short is a freelance writer and co-host of The Charlotte Podcast who loves digging up Charlotte’s past and pondering its future. Say hey when you see him on the streetcar.

Related Ledger articles:

“Charlotte’s ‘Meck Dec’ turns 250 next year” (May 20, 2024)
“Historical Heavyweights: Charlotte’s revolutionary tavern keeper” (James Jack) (March 15)
“Historical Heavyweights: Charlotte founding father resented British overlords” (Ephraim Brevard) (Jan. 13, 2024)
“Historical Heavyweights: A frontiersman who became Charlotte’s most important founding father” (Thomas Polk) (Oct. 2, 2021)

Today’s supporting sponsor is Arts+. Come to the Arts+ Community Campus at 2304 The Plaza on Saturday, March 29, from 1-4 p.m. for cyanotype postcards, live music performances, drum circle, live art installations and so much more!

Aldersgate board to vote March 28 on affiliation and could close on a deal by Sept. 1; ‘the rainbow’s coming,’ interim CEO says

A major turning point in the effort to financially stabilize the Aldersgate retirement community could be coming later this month, with the nonprofit community’s board of directors expected to vote March 28 on whether to affiliate with another company or organization.

The list of potential suitors to affiliate with the east Charlotte community has been narrowed down to one, Aldersgate interim CEO David Middleton told residents in a video message earlier this month.

If the board approves the affiliation, residents would be notified during a meeting on April 2, Middleton said, and the deal could be finalized by Sept. 1.

It’s unclear what the terms of an affiliation would mean for Aldersgate, or what type of entity is looking to link up with the retirement community, which is in the midst of a recovery plan stemming from serious financial problems that has had it under the supervision of state regulators since August 2023.

In a video to residents, Middleton said other changes are happening in an effort to strengthen Aldersgate’s finances:

A few apartments are being prepped for month-to-month rentals in one of the community’s older towers. (Typically, residents pay large entrance fees to move into a continuing care retirement community like Aldersgate; people moving into those small rental units won’t pay those entrance fees, but will pay higher monthly fees.)
Sites for eight new independent living cottages on the Aldersgate campus have been set aside for prospective residents who wish to live in a new home. Of those eight sites, deposits have been made on three, Middleton said.
An experienced sales consultant has been hired from Charleston to improve Aldersgate’s occupancy rate and improve market awareness.

Middleton, whose contract ends at the end of July, says he’s optimistic.

“When I came on board at Aldersgate last February of last year, there was a thunderstorm occurring. I didn’t see the thunderstorm, but I saw the rain,” Middleton said in his video to residents.

“The rain has begun to dissipate and to where we are basically at a drizzle, and the rainbow’s coming.” —Cristina Bolling

Related Ledger articles:

“Aldersgate cuts workforce, explores merger options” (Sept. 18, 2024)
“Aldersgate charts its recovery path” (July 26)
“Inside Aldersgate’s financial woes” (🔒, Feb. 2)

The doctors are in: first med school students accepted to Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Charlotte campus

Charlotte’s first class of 48 medical school students has been accepted by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and will begin in Charlotte on July 7, according to Atrium Health.

The medical school will grow its Charlotte class size over the next five years, eventually offering spots to 100 students annually.

The students will take classes in the 14-story Howard R. Levine Center for Education, one of two buildings on the campus of The Pearl medical innovation district in the Midtown/Dilworth area.

The building includes high-tech simulation rooms that replicate medical environments such as operating rooms, labor and delivery units, trauma rooms and ambulatory clinics.

The students will be taught by a core group of about eight medical educators along with 30 to 40 practicing physicians. Third- and fourth-year Wake Forest University medical students will also be in Charlotte doing rotations and clinical work.

Another 800 students pursuing allied health professions, such as nursing and radiologic technology, will start classes in the same building in August as part of the Carolinas College of Health Sciences. —Michelle Crouch

Review: McColl Center’s ‘Sovereign’ exhibit explores bodily autonomy with power and wit

Parker Duncan’s portrait of a girl writing “I am going to be somebody” in her composition book seems straightforward until you learn the title: “Dear Future Single Mother.” (Photo courtesy of the McColl Center)

Ledger arts critic Lawrence Toppman took in the new McColl Center exhibit “Sovereign: Honoring Bodily Autonomy” last week, in which local artist Meredith Connelly has curated work from 50+ artists to explore bodily autonomy in a national context. It runs through April 12.

In his review for The Ledger, Toppman writes:

As an adjective, “sovereign” can mean asserting independence. As a noun, it means someone who intends to exert complete control. Those definitions repeatedly clash at the new McColl Center exhibit “Sovereign: Honoring Bodily Autonomy.”
Curator Meredith Connelly, best known locally for creating the immersive attraction LIGHTS at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in 2019, has assembled work by more than 50 artists who reflect on issues from gender identity to reproductive rights. You expect an exhibit like this to be a gut-clencher, full of rage and bitterness. Occasionally, it is: I saw razor blades used at least four times. It also has moments of joy, humor, even serenity.

Check out Toppman’s review, which was published in the Ledger’s Toppman on the Arts newsletter:

Read the full review

Ledger subscribers can sign up to receive Toppman on the Arts on their “My Account” page.

🎧 New podcast episode: Turning university research into thriving businesses

North Carolina is home to world-class university research — but many groundbreaking ideas never make it beyond the lab.

Now, a new nonprofit backed by state and private funds is working to turn university research into thriving businesses, with the goal of creating jobs and boosting the state’s economy.

In a new episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, Michelle Bolas, executive vice president and chief innovation officer of NCInnovation, discussed how the organization works to bridge the gap between lab research and market-ready technology.

She spoke with Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia about:

projects NCInnovation is supporting at UNC Charlotte on water quality and electric grid stability
why university research is important to the future of North Carolina
what she’s hearing from universities about potential cuts from the federal government, and more

We hope you enjoy!

You might be interested in these Charlotte events: Fly-Fishing Film Tour, Ballantyne development panel, Civics 101, Mecklenburg mobility discussion

Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:

THURSDAY: “Fly-Fishing Film Tour—F3T Charlotte,” 5-9:30 p.m., Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. Join Jesse Brown’s for a collection of short films covering fly-fishing from all over the United States to all over the world. Doors open at 5 p.m. with members of fly-fishing, conservation and advocacy groups, plus live music. The films start at 7 p.m. $25.

THURSDAY: “Bringing to Life the Vision of Ballantyne Reimagined,” 8-9:30 a.m., AC Hotel Charlotte Ballantyne, 14819 Ballantyne Village Way, 16th floor. Join South Charlotte Partners for a behind-the-scenes look at Ballantyne Reimagined, a transformative project that has evolved a former golf course into The Bowl at Ballantyne, a vibrant new dining, retail and entertainment district for the South Charlotte region. The conversation will feature local executives who worked on the project: John Barton, president of Northwood Office; and Ned Curran, founder of Stone Cottage Advisors; with a discussion moderated by The Ledger’s Tony Mecia. $25 in advance, $35 at the door.

MARCH 25-27: “Trends in the Workplace 2025: A Free Webinar Series,” 10-11 a.m., virtual. Join The Charlotte Ledger and Catapult Employers Association for a free webinar series where top industry experts break down the biggest workplace trends of 2025, from hybrid work shifts to AI-powered teams, employee expectations to upskilling your workforce. Free.

MARCH 26: “League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg for Civics 101,” 6-8:30 p.m. at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East 4th Street, Room 280, Charlotte. Never before has it been so important to be informed about local government and to understand how it works in North Carolina. Join the League of Women Voters of Charlotte-Mecklenburg for Civics 101, a premier source of insight into the structures of governance in Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. The program consists of seven evening sessions, one-evening-per-week. $50; free for students.

MARCH 27: “Sustain Charlotte Connects: Shaping the future of mobility in Mecklenburg,” 6-8 p.m. at Town Brewing Co., 800 Grandin Road, Charlotte. Today 29,000 Mecklenburg residents live within 1/4 mile of frequent public transit. Imagine the benefits if that number increased to 250,000. This is just one of the major improvements that we could experience from an updated CATS public transit plan Join us for networking and discussion. Register today! $10.

➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.

In brief:

Big fire: A massive fire destroyed cocktail bar Morehead Social on East Morehead Street on Saturday morning. The bar wrote on Instagram: “Setbacks are not roadblocks; They are detours that lead to a better destination. Stay tuned we [are] coming back stronger and bigger.”
Suspect in Kim Thomas murder leaves prison: A suspect in one of Charlotte’s most infamous unsolved murders was released from prison on Friday after serving 20 years in an unrelated case. Marion Gales was a 28-year-old handyman in 1990 at the time that 32-year-old Kim Thomas was found slashed to death in her Cotswold home. A civil jury found Gales liable for Thomas’ murder but nobody has been tried criminally in the case. (Observer)
Lowe’s CEO sells south Charlotte mansion: Lowe’s Cos. CEO Marvin Ellison and his wife sold their home by Quail Hollow Club for $5.7M last week. It is a 12,000 s.f. mansion with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms. (Biz Journal, subscriber-only)
New food at Wells: Wells Fargo has opened an employees-only food hall and pickleball courts at its Customer Information Center in University City, where 10,000 employees are based. (Axios Charlotte, with 15 photos)

Correction

An article in Wednesday’s newsletter misspelled the name of Shanté Williams, Opera Carolina’s general director. Our apologies.

Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all 7 of our local newsletters:

The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.

◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website
◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn

The Charlotte Ledger

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?