Fact Friday 437 - The Centennial of Mountain Island Lake

Happy Friday!

Mountain Island Lake, the Catawba River reservoir northwest of Charlotte, turned 100 in 2024. To mark it, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation planned a talk by Rusty Rozzelle, whose family ran a ferry across the river for more than 120 years. If you've ever driven Rozzelles Ferry Road, this is the story behind the name.

This week's Fact Friday comes to you from the Mecklenburg County activty search on their website. 

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In 2024, Mecklenburg County celebrated 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, led the program and shared 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 shared tales passed down from his ancestors for over 200 years in a unique and entertaining anecdotal history of Mountain Island Lake.

The talk was held Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Quest Nature Center in Huntersville.

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 

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