The Mecklenburg County Historic Landmarks Department has started placing QR code placards at historic sites across the county, offering residents and visitors a new way to learn about local history. With more than 35 placards installed at 14 different landmarks, people can use their smartphone cameras to access stories about these sites.
Some of the featured locations include Savona Mill, a textile mill from 1915 that once employed 550 workers and now serves as office and retail space; Bojangles Coliseum, originally built in 1955 as Charlotte Coliseum; Massey-Clark House, one of Matthews’ oldest surviving buildings and currently home to the Matthews Heritage Museum; and Huntersville Rosenwald School #2, where generations of African American children studied. The community will mark the school’s 100th anniversary with an event on September 20.
Other placard sites are found at the Dr. Whitley Office Building in Mint Hill, Reid House in Matthews, Parkwood-Avenue ARP Church in Villa Heights, Franks House and Mecklenburg County Courthouse in Uptown, and Ratcliffe-Otterbourg House in Crescent Heights.
Historic Landmarks Director Stewart Gray said, “Many residents may not know the office they work in, building where they worship, or a house in their neighborhood has over a hundred years of history behind it. These QR code placards are a quick way to discover the stories behind the structures that have shaped our community.”
The Historic Landmarks Department works alongside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission to protect historically significant properties by recommending designations, managing endangered landmarks through purchase or sale, conducting design reviews, and educating the public. To date, more than 375 historic landmarks—including homes, schools, cemeteries, farms, and parks—have been preserved through these efforts.
Mecklenburg County’s school system enrolled a total of 153,537 students during the 2022-23 school year (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/), reflecting a slight decrease of 0.4% compared to the previous year (https://www.dpi.nc.gov/).
Property owners interested in obtaining a placard for their designated historic landmark can contact [email protected].
