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Home Front: Charlotte-Mecklenburg 1941-1946

Samuel "Buddy" Estis

Copies of the photographs on this page and documents were donated by Steve Estis, son of Samuel Estis, in November 2020. The full collection also includes 17 photographs of flight logs from Sgt Estis' time at Morris Field.
 

Transcript of Speech by Crawford Ferguson

Note: This speech by Crawford J.  Ferguson, III,  was given at a public program sponsored by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County at the Great Aunt Stella Center in Charlotte, NC, on March 23, 2000. The transcript follows:

Date of Event:

Snapshots

Cameras were not as common during World War II as they would become later. This fact makes these photos and images even more precious.

The Carolina Room has, to date, collected twenty four photographs of people from Charlotte and Mecklenburg County from the World War II era. Six of them are highlighted in the Image Gallery below.  View the whole album.

G.I.'s - Home at Last

The joy of coming home can be seen on the faces of these veterans from North Carolina. Front row, left to right: Cpl. Guy R. Thornton of 2324 Chesterfield Ave., Charlotte; Cpl. Howell T. Ballard of Kannapolis; and Cpl. Robert D. Byram of 3008 Dogwood Ave., Charlotte. Standing left to right: Pvt. Judge W. Brooks of 3109 Plaza Road, Charlotte; Pfc. Bill Smith of Cramerton; Pfc. Robert W. Simril of 40 E. 9th St., Charlotte; and Pfc. Howard W. Garren of 1549 W. Trade St., also of Charlotte

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Welcome, Soldier!

Welcome Soldier! was published by the Charlotte Junior Chamber of Commerce to help newly stationed troops become familiar with the city.

View Pages 1 to 5

Greetings from the Charlotte Jr. Chamber of Commerce

View Pages 6 to 10

Photo of downtown Charlotte, photo of NC Governor Broughton, Greeting from NCGovernor, photo & greeting of Mayor Currie

 

Date of Event:
1941

To G.I.'s: Welcome Home

To G.I.'s - Welcome Home is believed to have been published by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce to welcome our troops back to the city and ease their transition back into civilian life.

View Pages 1 to 5

Photo of downtown, greeting from Mayor Baxter, American Legion, U. S. Veterans’ Administration, War Dads and the U. S. Employment Service.

View Pages 6 to 10

Date of Event:
1945

Shortages and Scrap Metal

In this picture, Hoyt Galvin (left), acting chairman of the Mecklenburg County Salvage Committee, receives a victory pennant from James B. Vogler, Executive Secretary of the Conservation Division of the War Production Board in N.C. Mecklenburg was one of 16 counties that contributed 100 or more pounds of scrap per person during September and October, 1942. 

Date of Event:
1942

Home Front: Charlotte-Mecklenburg, 1941-1946 - People

These two women are working on an airplane wing at Morris Field. 

(Photo courtesy of the Carolinas Historic Aviation Commission and Museum.)

 

 

Below are stories of military personnel and civilians and their experiences in Mecklenburg County during the years 1941-1946.