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News from a neighbor! Volume 88 • Issue 2
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Wreaths Across America
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
SEE PAGE 3
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Could Belmont become Trolley Town USA? By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
Everyone knows that thanks to its spectacular holiday lights and events, McAdenville has acquired the name Christmas Town USA. In a similar vein of specialness, as of last week Belmont has now acquired not one, not two, but three vintage trolley cars that could give the city every right to call itself Trolley Town USA. OK so that’s just a fanciful suggestion, but the true fact is now the CityWorks building on E. Catawba is where three trolleys are snugly situated awaiting finishing touches and deployment on the tracks that run from downtown Belmont towards Wilkinson Blvd. Last week saw two trolleys brought to Belmont from
Charlotte. These cars, No. 1 and No. 85, join the 1913 Brill trolley that has called the CityWorks garage home for six years while it is undergoing a complete refurbishment. The two Charlotte trolleys arrived on flatbed trucks. Monday saw No.85 pulled through downtown Belmont and parked for a while near Stowe Park before finally being delivered to CityWorks. The spectacle drew quite a crowd. Tuesday witnessed car No. 1 delivered straight to CityWorks. Flatbeds from Advantage Machinery did the delivering. The cars were owned by the Charlotte Historic Landmarks Commission and had been housed since 2018 at the Sabona Mill in West Charlotte. Belmont Trolley, Inc. co-
vice president Nathan Wells was with the trolleys every mile of the way to their new home. “There’s kind of this little kid kind of tingle like a Christmas Eve sort of feeling waiting for Santa,” Wells said of the delivery. “Then there’s a more overriding sense of calm and satisfaction of a job well done. So though the project is not done, there’s still the sense of accomplishment knowing that it’s getting See TROLLEY, Pages 8 & 9
The 31st anin person, the nual Martin Luther virtual service alKing, Jr. Unity lows participants Celebration sponfrom all over the sored by the City county, state, and of Belmont, the beyond to parBelmont Coalition ticipate live or at of Concerned Citia later time. Last zens, the Gaston year almost the County NAACP, celebration was the Gaston County viewed almost Organization for 1200 times. Community Con- Rev. Mark Andews Mayor Charcerns, and Race lie Martin will Matters Community Conver- offer the welcome. The lightsation will take place Mon- ing of the Unity Candle by day, January 17th, 7pm. For approximately thirty area the second year the service children and teens will again will be held virtually and be a part of the service. Local hosted by the City of Belmont choirs will provide music. on its website (www.cityo- And the Reverend William belmont.org/MLKUnity). Mark Andrews will offer the While organizers regret not message. being able to gather safely See UNITY, Page 2
Photo by Ted Hall
Aileen Friday of Stanley has done some serious travelin’ By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
Unity Day event will be virtual
Trolley No. 85 makes its grand entrance into downtown Belmont.
Back in 1962 country music star Johnny Cash recorded a tune entitled “I’ve Been Everywhere”. That song pretty much sums up the life of 94-year-old Ailene Friday of Stanley. Friday, who has lived in Stanley since she was a teenager, was faced with a serious situation in 1994 when her husband Charles passed away. She could sit at home or she could get out and see the country. Well, she chose the latter and over the past quarter century has seen the U.S.A. from stem to stern. “I had never been anywhere before except Lake Lure and Chimney Rock,” Friday said. “So in 1997 I decided to get together with some friends, charter a bus, and start traveling.” Over the years, Friday’s circle of traveling companions has expanded and the scope of the sojourns has too. Sometimes so many folks go with her that it takes two buses.
“I’ve been to every state except Hawaii,” she said. “I don’t like flying over water.” The list of places Friday has visited reads like an atlas of America. Some of them are- Grand Canyon, Alaska, five trips to California, Salt Lake City, Oregon, and Kentucky. She’s also been to Nova Scotia in Canada. One of her favorite spots is Branson, Missouri. “I’m planning a trip there again for a group in April,” she said. “I already have thirty people signed up, but there’s room for a few more.” Friday, who organizes the jaunts and makes all the arrangements, doesn’t have a computer at home. So, how in the world does she book rooms and make other arrangements? “I use an old fashioned desk phone and contact the Ailene Friday, 94, of Stanley enjoys looking at scrap books chamber of commerce wher- filled with memories of her extensive travels. ever we are going,” she says matter of factly. Seeing new sights is cool, S.T.I Charters bus driver spoke highly of her choices in but Friday really relishes lodging arrangements. John Benton has been carmeeting new people. “She does not book dog rying Friday and her groups across the nation for years. He bed hotels,” he said. See FRIDAY, Page 2
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