Davidson Historical Society

05/14/2026

Don’t forget to RSVP for our FREE program, TheReal Story of the Battle of Cowan’s Ford, this Saturday, May 16th, 4pm at Davidson Town Hall (251 South St.)

Author, historian and Revolutionary War reenactor John E. Ferguson Misenheimer II will tell the story of the 1781 battle from the unique perspectives of both Major General Nathanael Greene and his brother-in-arms, Brigadier General William Lee Davidson.

Local actor and historian, John Misenheimer, presents the “Real Story of the Battle of Cowan’s Ford” from the perspective of both General Nathanael Greene and his “Brother in Arms” General William Lee Davidson.

05/14/2026

Davidson’s newest locally designated historic landmark is Armour Street Theatre, also known as the Davidson Baptist Chapel. Designated in October 2025, the Chapel is significant as an extant representation of the “town and gown” class divide which once characterized the Town. Davidson was divided by the railroad both physically and socioeconomically. The eastern section was connected with Davidson College and home to the Town’s upper- and middle-class residents as well as the business district. The western section developed in the early twentieth century around cotton mills and the associated mill villages. The 1960s construction of Lake Norman and increased development from the 1980s onward have resulted in the loss of many of the buildings that represent this important aspect of Davidson’s history. The building is currently utilized by Davidson Community Players, who have plans for future theatre improvements.

Do you pass an interesting building on your daily walk or commute to work? Consider adding it to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission Study List! Any building, structure, site, area, or object within Mecklenburg County that is at least 50 years old can be nominated by anyone for the Study List. Fill out the Study List application at www.landmarkscommission.org/applications

05/06/2026

May is National Preservation Month. To celebrate, we’ll be posting preservation related content each week in the month of May. 

We’d like to kick off Preservation Month by highlightingthe Davidson Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) with a mission to promote an understanding and appreciation of the history of Davidson and the surrounding area. The Society’s’ largest function through the years has been offering educational programs four to six times per year. These programs have been in the form of lectures, tours of historic properties, walking tours, etc. These programs offer both members and non-members opportunities to learn about local history.  

Learn more about Davidson Historical Society’s work and upcoming programs at https://www.davidsonhistoricalsociety.org/  

05/02/2026

Davidson Historical Society will present a free program May 16 titled “The Real Story of the Battle of Cowan’s Ford,” about a key Revolutionary War battle that took place right here in Mecklenburg County.

Author, historian and Revolutionary War reenactor John E. Ferguson Misenheimer II will tell the story of the 1781 battle from the unique perspectives of both Major General Nathanael Greene and his brother-in-arms, Brigadier General William Lee Davidson.

Visit our website to RSVP. May 16, 4pm Town Hall

05/02/2026

We’re here on the town green for Town Day until 2:00! We have historical photos, info on our May 16th program and books for sale!

04/08/2026

One of North Carolina’s biggest mysteries has a connection to Davidson!

One of North Carolina’s most fascinating historical mysteries is the story of Peter Stuart Ney.

In the early 1800s, Ney was known across the Carolinas as an educated and respected schoolteacher. He reportedly arrived in Charleston from France in 1818 and later taught in places such as Mecklenburg County before settling near Davidson. There, he even designed the Davidson College seal in 1840 — a seal still used today.

But Peter Stuart Ney was no ordinary teacher.

On his deathbed in 1846, he made a shocking claim: that he was actually Marshal Michel Ney, one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s most famous commanders. Over the years, historians and researchers have pointed to a number of curious details — similarities in handwriting, reports of recognition by former French soldiers, his deep reaction to Napoleon’s death, and repeated remarks Ney made about his own identity.

His tombstone only adds to the mystery, describing him as “a native of France and soldier of the French Revolution under Napoleon Bonaparte.”

Was Peter Stuart Ney truly Napoleon’s marshal living under another name in the Carolinas? Or was he a brilliant man wrapped in legend and mystery?

The truth may never be fully known, but his story remains one of the most intriguing historical mysteries in the Carolinas.

03/19/2026

Lake Norman was constructed between 1959 and 1964 after the Catawba River was dammed at Cowans Ford. What was there before and how has the lake changed our region? Join Davidson Historical Society for a discussion with two experts on the lake's history on Sunday, March 29, 4pm, Bailey's Glen Clubhouse in Cornelius. panelists are Chuck McShane, author of "A History of Lake Norman: Fish Camps to Ferraris," and Jan Blodgett, a historian and the retired archivist at Davidson College, who has researched pre-lake history of the region. Free, but registration required at DavidsonHistoricalSociety.org/programs

03/18/2026

03/15/2026