Fact Friday 437 - The Centennial of Mountain Island Lake
Happy Friday!
This week's Fact Friday comes to you from the Mecklenburg County activty search on their website.
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Celebrate the Centennial of Mountain Island Lake with tales from legendary local Rusty Rozzelle!
A Ferry Tale: Anecdotal History of Mountain Island Lake: Celebrate Mountain Island Lake's centennial by learning some history on Mecklenburg County and local ferries. Rusty Rozzelle, who worked to protect and restore water quality conditions in Mecklenburg County for over 40 years serving as the County’s Water Quality Program Manager, will lead the program and share his family history. Pictured: Richard Rozzelle I operating the Rozzelle Ferry near the current Rozzelle's Ferry Bridge.
Rusty Rozzelle has worked to protect and restore water quality conditions in Mecklenburg County streams, lakes, and ponds for over 40 years serving as the County’s Water Quality Program Manager. Rusty has a unique perspective on his job in that he is a 6th generation native of Mecklenburg County who spent his childhood playing in the waters that he grew to love and has dedicated his life to protecting.
The Rozzelle family came to live in Mecklenburg in the mid-1700s when they purchased a farm along the banks of the Catawba River west of Charlotte. To supplement their income, they also ran a ferry carrying travelers across the Catawba River for over 120 years. The road from the ferry to Charlotte came to be called Rozzelle’s Ferry Road and many segments of that old road still bear that name today. The bridge crossing the river at Brookshire Boulevard (HWY 16) is named the Rozzelle Ferry Bridge. Rusty and 6 generations of his family have lived, worked, and played in the Catawba River in that stretch we now call Mountain Island Lake. During his presentation, Rusty will share tales passed down from his ancestors for over 200 years in a unique and entertaining anecdotal history of Mountain Island Lake.
Activity Date & Time: Saturday, July 13, 2024, 10-11am.
Location: Meet at Quest Nature Center - 6345 Sample Rd Huntersville, NC 28078
To read more on this topic, check out:
Fact Friday 93 - Boomtown Beginnings - Tinkers & Traders
Fact Friday 278 - Shuffletown and its Famous Dragway
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Sources: Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation activity search
Email chris@704shop.com if you have interesting Charlotte facts you’d like to share or just to provide feedback!
“History is not the past, it is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.” - James Baldwin