The Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall unites a neighborhood
Plus: Top news of the week — Norfolk Southern willing to deal on Red Line — N.C. Republicans release possible election maps — Charlotte crime is up 11% — Lionel Messi to play Charlotte FC
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Viewpoint: Against a backdrop of a neighborhood controversy, the annual Halloween tradition will rise again
“Harmony” was the theme of the 2022 Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall. (Photo courtesy of John Short)
by John Short
Each year in Charlotte’s Elizabeth community, neighbors work shoulder to shoulder during the last weeks of October to construct the “Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall.”
It’s an annual tradition with the vibes of an Amish barn raising that kicks off the holiday season. The location of the wall moves nearly every year, and it’s an event made possible only with neighbors volunteering their time to come together.
In its 19th year, the wall has had its share of controversy — usually due to the word that sits atop the 60-foot long and 20-foot high wooden shelf filled with carved pumpkins. The neighborhood selects a single word every year that is illuminated with LED lights and is perched on the wall. The word is chosen to represent the mood of the neighborhood and current events.
For the nine years prior to becoming an “official” Elizabeth Community event in 2013, the wall was erected by a self-described “quiet group of neighborhood handypersons” nicknamed The Woodpeckers, who made no secret of their political affiliations. (The word on the first wall in 2004 was “Kerry,” in support of the presidential campaign of Democratic nominee John Kerry.)
In 2007, the word on the wall was simply a date, 1-20-2009, the day of the next inauguration, a political statement of counting down the days of the George W. Bush administration. And in 2012, the wall bearing the word “Obama” was vandalized when someone attempted to set a support post on fire. Neighbors were able to put out the flames before it caused any serious damage to the structure, but the scars from the flames are still visible on the support posts.
This year, the wall will rise above signs for the “Historic Elizabeth Neighborhood Foundation,” which now dot the yards of a handful of homes in the neighborhood. “HENF” is an organization of a small group of Elizabeth residents that assembled over the past few years with the purpose of advocating for a designation from the city to classify Elizabeth as an official historic district. This designation, they say, will protect the neighborhood’s older homes and set a blueprint for future development to stay in line with existing structures.
The efforts of the pro-historic designation group have rubbed some neighbors the wrong way. Opponents of the designation point out that such a designation would invite additional red tape and expense to any home project, requiring approval from city officials in order to move forward. The cost associated with obtaining this approval could escalate renovation prices to a point that it becomes prohibitively restrictive to modify a home in the neighborhood.
But the wall has persevered through past controversies and is likely to survive the latest differences of opinion. Nearly all of the dozens of boards used in the original pumpkin wall from 2004 are still intact and used in its construction, and they have survived nearly two decades of election years and neighborhood spats.
When the shelves go up in late October, it’s possible that the historic designation will be discussed among the volunteers. It’s hard not to talk to a neighbor without it coming up these days, whether informally on front porches, or in open meetings designed to inform and solicit discussion and insight on the topic.
Regardless of which side of the argument that neighbors fall, each Elizabeth resident has arrived at their opinion due to their passion for the place they live. That passion is what the neighbors pour into community gatherings. Many hope it’s strong enough to transcend the recent squabbles around the designation.
Pursuit of the historic district status by its supporters will continue well after the 2023 Pumpkin Wall has come and gone. The process requires rounds of historic committee approval and ultimately a neighborhood vote.
Neighbors who are fatigued with the controversy, meanwhile, are eager to come together and celebrate the community. It’s too much to ask that a symbol and a single word unite a neighborhood. But on the Sunday before Halloween, this year’s word will be revealed when the Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall is illuminated in front of the gathered crowd.
Want to go? This year’s Pumpkin Wall will sit at 2017 Greenway Ave. The wall is illuminated for the first time at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, and will stay lit nightly through Halloween.
John Short is an Elizabeth resident, freelance writer and the construction coordinator for the Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall.
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This week in Charlotte: New section of Cross Charlotte Trail to open Tuesday; Atrium Health halts lawsuits; Tim Newman released from S.C. jail; Pineville opens old town jail to the public
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Earnest Winston returns to education: (WFAE) Former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Earnest Winston is now a graduate student in UNC Charlotte’s Cato College of Education’s school administration program, and he is working as a principal intern at a Kannapolis elementary school.
High school names narrowed; no ‘Big Rock’: The new high school under construction in the Ballantyne area has narrowed its list of possible names to three, according to a survey circulated this week: “Ballantyne Ridge High,” “Creekside High” and “Reginald Hawkins High.”
Politics
Redistricting maps: Republicans in the General Assembly released possible election maps for 2024 that would solidify Republican advantages in races for Congress and the state legislature. WFAE’s “Inside Politics” newsletter examines some of the implications for Mecklenburg County and the Charlotte area.
McHenry open to a vote to expand his powers: (Politico) Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry has stated that he’s open to a vote that would formally expand his powers as the top House Republican. However, he threatened to resign as acting speaker during a GOP conference meeting on Thursday if he was pushed to move legislation without a formal vote to expand his powers.
Local news
Norfolk Southern willing to deal on Red Line: (Transit Time) Norfolk Southern has indicated a willingness to consider permitting commuter rails on its tracks in Mecklenburg County, potentially ending a longstanding impasse and reinvigorating Charlotte's regional transit plans, particularly the Red Line project connecting the city to northern towns.
New section of XCLT: (Axios) Charlotte's first phase of the Backlot Trail connects SouthPark to Park Road Park and the Cross Charlotte Trail. This initial segment spans a third of a mile and includes a pedestrian crosswalk with traffic signals. It’s set to officially open on Oct. 24, 2023.
CMPD crime report: (WCNC) Recent crime trends indicate a 5% decrease in violent crime, but overall crime is up by 11% compared with last year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police reported.
Business
Canadian manufacturer brings 150 jobs to Pineville: (Observer) Canadian manufacturer IPEX is expanding its presence in North Carolina and investing $200M in a new 200,000 s.f. facility in Pineville, bringing 150 jobs to the region.
Sports
It’s Messi time for Charlotte FC: (Fútbol Friday) Charlotte FC faces a crucial match tonight against Inter Miami with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance. Lionel Messi is set to make an appearance for Miami.
The dawn of the NBA season: The Charlotte Hornets wrapped up their preseason this week with a 1-3 record. The regular season starts Wednesday with a home game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Good reads
‘Funny Girl’ review: Ledger arts critic Lawrence Toppman reviewed Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Broadway Lights season opener, "Funny Girl." Read the full review.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Atrium Health halts lawsuits: Atrium Health, previously a top collector of medical debt in North Carolina, has silently stopped suing patients for unpaid medical bills, earning praise from critics who argue it's unfair for a nonprofit hospital to take people to court for bills they can't control. This shift in policy was part of Atrium's efforts to make healthcare more affordable, but it does leave questions about what will happen to the patients with existing debt.
Rezoning ruffles some feathers: A dispute over a large apartment development off Red Road in south Charlotte involves a unique twist as it hinges on the presence of two American bald eagles, known as Piper and Glen, whose nest is near the proposed construction site. Neighbors are concerned the development may disrupt the eagles' habitat, while the developer says the birds won't be harmed and believes the opposition reflects resistance to growth in the city.
Tim Newman’s week in SC jails: Former Charlotte Center City Partners and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority head Tim Newman, who has faced multiple criminal charges in recent years, was transferred from one South Carolina county jail to another after being arrested for making threats on the campus of a private school and violating the terms of his probation. On Thursday, he was released from the Kershaw County Detention Center on $30,000 bond.
🎧 New podcast: In a recent episode of the Charlotte Ledger Podcast, WBTV investigative reporter David Hodges discusses the process of reporting that led to “WBTV Investigates: Fire and Failure,” a special report that video digs into the May 18th construction fire in SouthPark.
8AM in Charlotte: The Ledger asked readers to tell us what they were doing at 8 a.m. and used artificial intelligence to come up with lyrics for "Charlotte at 8AM," a song inspired by a Drake song with a similar title. Charlotte-based Backspinz Music Academy, a nonprofit focused on teaching music skills to teens, turned the lyrics into an actual song. Listen to the song.
Ballantyne developers give 12 acres to YMCA: Developer Smoky Bissell and his family have gifted around 12 acres of land in Ballantyne to the YMCA of Greater Charlotte.
Pineville’s historic jail: The town of Pineville is celebrating its 150th anniversary during its fall fest this weekend, and as part of the festivities, the old town jail is being opened to the public. The jail has been used for storing town files and minutes but has been cleaned up and will be available for visitors to explore.
Ken Schultz, who dedicated over 24 years to the national Christian nonprofit Search Ministries, passed away on October 9 at the age of 72. Schultz had a heartfelt commitment to helping people discover faith and healing.
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman, BC Creative
The residence of the Elisabeth neighborhood are choosing to deal with this because of their partisanship. If they truly wanted harmony as their words suggest last year, they would stay away from things that inflame others. But if they continue to choose to do so, I guess they get what they deserve.