Christmas in July, summer in December
On July 4, I spent my day in a different way than usual. I decided to go forgo my tradition of going to Faith, since I had started having my own heat wave several years back. Instead, I spent the day mostly by myself, shopping at some stores and joining my daughter and family for lunch.
I entered a garden and home center and thought I had walked through a time machine. First, there were displays of spring/summer clearance items; then there was the Christmas in July clearance; and then were was the display for fall. It had scarecrows, pumpkins and fall flowers. Nowhere did I see red, white and blue.
Then, later I went to a discount store to look for a water slide for my grandchildren. On the aisles were back-to-school supplies, backpacks and school uniforms. (My grandchildren had only been out of school 26 days). They had just finished vacation Bible school the week before.
The next week, I entered a department store and came face-to-face with a display and wooden sign ó “Happy Thanksgiving.” There were fall flowers and scarecrows.
What I would like to know is who decided to call an end to summer by July 4. Some of us have not even had our summer vacation. I know you have to look ahead, but somehow, jumping to October and November makes it seem like you have overlooked the real summer of July and August. I can’t imagine what toddler and kindergarten-age kids think of this.
It makes me think that one of these years, we might overlap ourselves on holidays. I can only say that it’s good to have a daily newspaper to check out the day, date and year. (Maybe I just shop too much.)
ó Kathy Moore
Kannapolis
Dixonville revisited
Recently, much has been written in reference to the Dixonville neighborhood. I applaud these efforts. Hodge Evans and I often discuss our childhood and life on the East Side of town and our adventures in Dixonville.
As I recall, a Mr. Dixon gave, donated or provided a tract to blacks to build Dixonville Baptist Church. This area was east of the railroad tracks at the intersection of Horah Street, Concord Road and Railroad Street. From there, you could follow the perimeter by going south on Railroad Street, left on East Monroe, back to Concord Road and then left onto Concord, going west, and intersecting the initial intersection. In the area on the south side of Concord Road within the forestated perimeter, the neighborhood of Dixonville came into being.
Back in the day, there were many neighborhoods on the East Side. The most notable included Rinkton or Long Street extension, Glendale Avenue, Clark’s Alley, Heleigh Town, Fairview Heights and Mowry Lane.
The records state little about Mr. Dixon as he was related to Dixonville. Persons keeping the records seemingly excluded how the land area became the Dixonville community. Remember, Dixonville was just a neighborhood on the East Side of town. By the way, I’m guessing that’s why the cemetery on the East Side became the Dixonville Cemetery.
It seems most strange that with such a productive community of educators, business persons, political leaders, medical professionals and outstanding military officers, why weren’t better records kept?
I hope this will motivate others to provide pertinent data about the history of the past and current East Side community.
ó W. Frank Jones and Hodge Evans
Salisbury