What lies beneath Providence Spring
Plus: Teen talk on relationships; The news of the week — Ardrey Kell principal retires unexpectedly; Brown 'still fighting' after indictment; UNC Charlotte denies DEI claims; New Publix opens
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Off the Beaten Path: A peaceful wooded path behind Providence Presbyterian Church holds centuries of history — and secrets.
Editor’s note: This occasional series is devoted to discovering the hidden corners and unexpected stories in Charlotte and the surrounding region. Have a suggestion? Contact series editor Doug Miller at coach@millerswimming.com
by Caroline Willingham
Tucked behind a centuries-old church and beneath a canopy of tall trees, a quiet trail winds past mossy stones and weathered crosses — a serene walk layered with complex history. Just off Providence Road, it feels a world away from the bustle of south Charlotte.
This is Providence Spring, a shaded path once used as a trading route and water source by Indigenous people, later by early settlers, and still today by members of Providence Presbyterian Church, founded in 1767. The trail leads not only to the spring itself but to stories long buried — including a largely unmarked cemetery for the church’s formerly enslaved members, now being brought into fuller view through new research and restoration efforts.
Providence Spring has served many purposes over the past few centuries, from a source of baptismal water to an Indigenous trading route location. Now, it marks the end of a peaceful, wooded trail behind the cemetery of Providence Presbyterian Church. (Caroline Willingham photo)
Longtime church and cemetery committee member Susan Patterson says the area wasn’t formally preserved for many years, though the church has long used water from the spring for baptisms. In the 1970s, local Boy Scout troops began helping clear the trail, maintain the site, and build bridges and railings — a project that continues today.
The trail has drawn wider interest because of what lies beneath it: a cemetery for enslaved people once connected to the church. Today, the known graves are marked with metal crosses and a plaque listing six names, though at least 40 people are believed to be buried there. Patterson says these were members who stayed after Emancipation, when many others left to form Matthews Murkland Presbyterian Church, just a few miles away. Providence now maintains a relationship with that congregation, as many members have ancestors buried at the site.
Recently, a grant-funded project with UNC Charlotte used radar imaging to more accurately identify graves — uncovering more than 100 additional burial sites, some on the opposite side of the trail.
The trail feels steeped in history, and the quiet solitude is striking. As I walked through the gate at the back of the cemetery into the woods, I was surrounded by birdsong and rustling trees, mixed with the distant sounds of children playing at the nearby school. I quickly came upon the cemetery for enslaved people — stark white crosses and a plaque marking the solemn start of the path, a powerful reminder of the area’s layered past.
The trail is well-maintained and easy to follow as it winds downhill toward the spring, where another plaque explains the site's historical importance as a water source.
While the trail is peaceful and scenic, it’s also densely wooded and damp from the nearby creek — so expect bugs. The creek is small and the spring itself is modest, marked with stones. Still, the experience is a unique one, especially in the fall when the leaves change — a quiet, reflective walk unlike most places in Charlotte.
How to get to the spring:
Turn off Providence Road onto Providence Church Lane. You'll pass Providence Spring Elementary and see Providence Presbyterian Church across the street (10140 Providence Church Ln, Charlotte, NC 28277).
Park in the church lot or the horseshoe drive in front of the cemetery. Enter through the main cemetery gate (open to the public during daylight hours).
Follow the path straight to the back of the cemetery, where a worn trail leads to another gate set into a stone wall — always propped open. From there, it’s a short five-minute walk downhill to the spring.
You’ll first pass the cemetery for enslaved people on your left. Continue down the hill and take a few steps to a small bridge crossing the creek. Just beyond that is the spring, marked with stones. The trail ends there, with a fence to the left marking school property and private land ahead. The woods extend to the right but without a clear path.
Accessibility: The walk is brief but includes stairs and some steep, uneven ground, making it less accessible for those with mobility challenges.
Caroline Willingham is a freelance writer and multimedia storyteller based in Charlotte. You can reach her at carowill1207@gmail.com.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.
Teen Talk: The lingo of modern relationships — from ‘situationships’ to ‘hard launches’
Impress and delight the young people in your life by using the words they use. The Ledger shows you how in this occasional Saturday feature.
Relationships can be confusing — and so can the words used to describe them. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the words that young people use to describe their romantic entanglements.
Phase 1: the ‘talking stage’
Explanation: The preliminary stage of romantic interaction between two teenagers or young adults. This is an undefined period, during which the pair is flirting via text message or Snapchat to simply get to know one another. “Talking” to someone refers to a romantic context.
Examples:
“I heard that you and Jared are dating?” “No, no, we’re just talking. We Snapchat every night, but it’s nothing serious.”
“Did you and Emma go out on a date this weekend?” “No, we’re not at that point yet. We’re still in the talking stage — you know how it is.”
Phase 2: ‘situationship’
Pronunciation: sitch-ooh-AYY-shun-ship
Explanation: A romantic situation, usually among teenagers or young adults, that includes established regular contact but is not considered to be a formal or official relationship. There is often frustration in this stage, as it typically occurs when one person is interested in a committed relationship and the other is not.
Examples:
“Every time I try to ask, ‘What are we?’ she changes the subject. I’m tired of this situationship — it’s been two months!”
“We basically do everything an official couple would do, but he says he ‘doesn’t like labels.’ Ugh!” “Girl, you’re in a situationship.”
Phase 3: ‘exclusive’
Explanation: Becoming “exclusive” with someone is a step beyond casual dating. It means both partners have agreed to date only each other and stop seeing other people. However, they haven’t yet made the relationship official by calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend.
Examples:
“She said she deleted her dating apps, so I guess that means we’re exclusive now?” “Yeah, it sounds like it, but did she actually ask you to be exclusive?”
“He asked me to be exclusive yesterday and I said yes. … I guess that means I should stop talking to David and Max.”
Phase 4: official relationship
Explanation: The final stage of dating in which one partner asks the other to be his/her significant other, and both partners have openly declared their commitment to each other.
Examples:
“Guess what, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend last night!” “Aww, that’s so sweet! How did he ask you?”
“We’ve been exclusive for a while, but we finally made it official last night! He even brought me flowers.”
🚀 Ready to launch: Once a couple becomes official, the next step is often announcing the relationship on social media — either through a “soft launch” or “hard launch.”
A “soft launch” subtly hints at a relationship and includes ambiguous clues such as shared locations or a photo with just a glimpse of the partner.
A “hard launch” makes the relationship status remarkably clear — usually including photos of the partners’ full faces or a couple's photo.
—Caroline Mecia, age 22
This week in Charlotte: McCormick & Schmick’s closes; Wells Fargo nears end of asset cap; CIAA stays in Baltimore; Weight loss drugs could become more accessible
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
Ardrey Kell principal retires after unexplained suspension: Parents and teachers at Ardrey Kell High School are protesting Thursday’s announcement that Principal Jamie Brooks is retiring effective Sunday. Brooks had been suspended with pay since May 2, but Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials have not disclosed the reason for the suspension. School community members plan to demonstrate near the school on Monday morning and have painted “United for Jamie” on the school rock.
Randolph Middle principal suspended: (WBTV) Randolph Middle School Principal Jennifer Schroeder has been suspended with pay since May 20. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials haven’t released the reason for the suspension and told parents she would be “away from campus during this time.”
UNC Charlotte denies DEI claims: (WFAE) UNC Charlotte denied claims by a conservative group that it’s secretly continuing DEI efforts after a video was leaked, stating it complies with state policies and that the employee in the group's video was misinformed and is no longer with the university.
Politics
Tiawana Brown says she’s ‘still fighting’: (WFAE) Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown held a town hall days after being indicted on federal fraud charges tied to Covid relief loans, and said she still plans to run for re-election. “I’m still here,” she said at the meeting. “I’m still fighting, and I’m still serving.”
County commission votes to restore some funding: (WFAE) Mecklenburg County commissioners voted to restore some community funding in the proposed budget using county reserves to groups including Crisis Assistance Ministry. The county commission will vote on the $2.5B budget next week.
Local news
Charlotte police chief to retire after $305,000 settlement: (Charlotte Optimist) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings released details of a secret $305,000 settlement he reached with the city to resolve his complaints that former council member Tariq Bokhari was applying political pressure to allow police officers to wear exterior bulletproof vests. The settlement also calls for Jennings to retire at the end of 2025. The Ledger examined the issue in-depth this week (🔒).
New Publix: (WBTV) A new Publix grocery store opened Wednesday off Albemarle Road near Rocky River Church Road. The store, part of the Clear Creek Crossings development, will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
McCormick and Schmick’s closes: (Biz Journal) After two decades in Charlotte, McCormick & Schmick’s has closed its last location at 200 S. Tryon St. in uptown. The seafood and steakhouse chain opened in uptown in 2005.
Business
Wells Fargo nears end of asset cap: (Banking Dive) Wells Fargo says it’s closing in on the end of a seven-year, $1.95 trillion asset cap that’s limited its growth since a fake-accounts scandal rocked the company. The bank is now gearing up to expand, says CEO Charlie Scharf, especially in retail banking, with the goal to grow market share after years of holding back to rebuild trust and satisfy regulators.
New headquarters: Daimler Truck Financial Services USA is relocating its headquarters to Ballantyne, investing $7.8M and creating 276 jobs as it consolidates operations from Michigan and Texas into a 60,000 s.f. space at 13034 Ballantyne Corporate Place.
Sports
CIAA to stay in Baltimore: (Biz Journal, subscriber-only) The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association will hold its annual basketball tournament in Baltimore through 2029, dashing Charlotte’s hopes of regaining the games.
Tar Heels basketball schedule: (Observer) For the first time since 1919, UNC and N.C. State will not play a men’s basketball game in Chapel Hill in the 2025-26 season. They’ll face off only once, frustrating fans with the break in N.C. basketball tradition. The Duke Blue Devils and Tar Heels will still play their normally scheduled two games during the regular season.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
In case you missed it, The Ledger had two big staff announcements this week…
Ava Mikeal, a recent UNC Chapel Hill grad, started as our new director of business development. In this newly created role, she manages sponsorships, client relationships and strategic partnerships. She’s The Ledger’s fourth full-time employee. Read more about Ava and her role here. We’re excited to have her on the team!
Cristina Bolling, The Ledger’s managing editor, is leaving us for a new career adventure. She’s joining Novant Health as a writer and editor. You can read more about her time with The Ledger and what’s next for her here. She’s a huge asset to our team and The Ledger’s growth over the past five years, and we’ll miss her greatly.
Wednesday (🔒)
Interest in boys’ volleyball is spiking: Boys’ volleyball is booming in North Carolina high schools, with a grassroots movement pushing to make it a sanctioned sport by 2027.
Plus: All Latin Masses move to Mooresville; Analysis of police chief settlement revelations; N.C.'s “godfather of craft beer” passes away
Friday (🔒)
Weight loss drugs like Ozempic could soon be in reach: High-cost weight loss drugs like Ozempic are transforming lives, but many in North Carolina still can’t access them, prompting growing pressure on insurers and employers to expand coverage as prices drop and benefits grow.
Plus: St. Matthew to get new pastor after Vatican inquiry of former pastor; George Shinn on landing Hornets
Ways of Life (🔒)
Bill Yoder, a beloved Charlotte father and spirited adventurer, never let epilepsy or grief dim his light — riding bikes, making friends and embracing life. He was killed in a crash on his bicycle by a tractor-trailer on May 9 at the corner of East Woodlawn and Park roads. He was 73.
Fútbol Friday
Defensive woes are sinking Charlotte FC: Charlotte FC’s once-stout defense is unraveling, conceding 27 goals so far this season amid injuries, mistakes and slipping form from key players like goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
Toppman on the Arts
Hardly a-maize-ing, but pleasant in its corny way: Ledger arts critic Lawrence Toppman reviews “Shucked” at Belk Theater, which he says delivers plenty of corny laughs and high energy, but its patchy plot and recycled gags make for a fun yet forgettable night of theater.
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