Davidson Historical Society

10/06/2026

Did you know that businesses on Main Street in downtown Davidson burned not once, but twice at the beginning of the 20th century? It changed the face of downtown - and the way we build. On Oct. 24, we'll take a look at those fires and others in town and at Davidson College. Join us! RSVP here:

We'll hear about major fires in Davidson, including the loss of the original Chambers Building at Davidson College, early 20th-century blazes on Main Street, and the movie theater fire of 1954. We'll also talk with a Davidson Fire Department official about how firefighting has changed.

10/06/2026

Members Only Exclusive! Make sure your membership is up to date (starting at $25 per year) and join us tomorrow night, Oct 6, at 6pm for a tour of the historic Dr. Justice house on South Street. Memberships can be paid at the door! https://www.davidsonhistoricalsociety.org/event-details/members-tour-historic-justice-house-1

09/15/2026

Davidson Soda Shop on Main Street in downtown Davidson has a big birthday coming up this fall - 75 years of operation. To celebrate the milestone, they're collecting Soda Shop memories, with the help of Davidson College. Is there a favorite meal you always come back to? Did you meet someone important to you there? Was it a common setting for your friend group’s shenanigans? Send your stories and photos to [email protected] by Friday, Oct. 2. They'll include memories in a future tribute. Davidson Soda Shop

09/10/2026

Was 19th century NC schoolteacher Peter Stewart Ney Napoleon's Marshal Ney? Historian Gary Freeze joined the Davidson Historical Society last weekend to explore the question. He says he's a believer, but the evidence goes both ways. Read more or listen to a podcast from the event at DavidsonHistoricalSociety.org. And while you're there, please become a member ! We bring you these programs thanks to community support.

08/18/2026

Davidson Historical Society plans a series of programs this fall, looking at "The Mystery of Peter Stewart Ney" (Sept.), the history of Ada Jenkins and the Ada Jenkins Center (Oct.), and the history of fires and firefighting in Davidson (Nov.). We kick off the season Saturday, Sept. 5, when historian Gary Freeze (photo 3) joins us to unravel the story of Salisbury schoolteacher Peter Stewart Ney, an early 19th-century immigrant to the US who claimed to be Marshal Michel Ney (photo 1), a commander under French emperor Napoleon. It's free, at 4pm at Davidson Town Hall
Free. Register in advance at Davidsonhistoricalsociety.org

French researchers exhumed the grave of Peter Stewart Ney in Rowan County in 2022 in hopes of solving the mystery.

Historian Gary Freeze joins us Sept 5 at Davidson Town Hall to talk about "The Mystery of Peter Stewart Ney"

08/18/2026

Update on the Alexander Farms tenant house in Cornelius. The house was moved to Huntersville.

07/28/2026

A little bit of history from our friends at Davidson College

07/17/2026

Following up on our recent programs about the nation's 250th anniversary: Here's a story by Marshall Terry of WFAE, about the Catawba Nation's role in the American Revolution.

As the U.S. marks its 250th birthday, most stories focus on familiar figures and places like Washington, Jefferson, Boston and Yorktown. In Kings Mountain, about 45 minutes west of Charlotte, a new exhibit instead highlights an often overlooked story: the Native Americans — especially the Catawba ...

06/22/2026

Davidson Historical Society and Archives & Special Collections helped mark the nation's 250th anniversary June 18 by co-sponsoring a discussion and display of Revolutionary War artifacts from the college collection. College archivists brought a variety of objects out of storage, including the twin pistols of Revolutionary War Gen. William Lee Davidson, souvenir posters promoting the Mecklenburg Declaration, and engraved maps from the Revolutionary era. About 80 people came to the event in the Davidson College Union 900 Room. For a story and photos, read our report on DavidsonHistoricalSociety.org

06/20/2026

Mayor Rusty Knox cut a ribbon to mark the dedication of the newly renovated historic Davidson School gymnasium Saturday, June 20. With him were town staff, several town commissioners and county commissioner Leigh Altman as well as representatives from the construction company Balfour Beatty. Residents then got to see the renovations up close and shoot a few baskets. For more about the $4M project see our story and podcast at DavidsonHistoricalSociety.org (via )