Ballantyne Magazine covers news, events, real estate, restaurants, shopping, health, schools and business in the upscale Ballantyne Area of Charlotte, NC.
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Community Vibe Old Log Cabin Helps Preserve Local History, Hosts Fall Festival Photos by Mary-Alice Warren THE ROOTS OF BALLANTYNE'S STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY RUN DEEP. Despite the area's image as one of recent development, local women whose families settled here as far back as the 1780s remain determined to preserving the heritage of "Lower Providence," the original name for this part of the county. The center of their efforts is Lower Providence Community House, or "the Old Log Cabin," as it is endearingly known to those who grew up here. Situated in a stand of towering oaks on the west side of Community House Road across from Community House Middle School, the Lower Providence Community House stands as living testimony to the commitment women made here during the depth of the Depression to nurture the community's close-knit bond. In 1934, the women formed the Providence Home Demonstration Club and began meeting in members' homes. Shortly thereafter, they entered the Mecklenburg County Fair with a booth for themselves and another for their community, both of which took top honors. With the prize money, the women established a building fund to create a place for their meetings and the community to enjoy. Cabin Built in 1938 Four years later, their dream became reality. The Ross, Kerr and Earnheart families donated the land, and construction began on the 29-by-39-foot building with its seven-foot-high door. Husbands of members and other men in the community felled enormous pines for the cabin and hauled in stones from their farms for the massive fireplace. Despite lean times, the can-do spirit of the group was successful and the venture was completed debt free. Over the years, bake sales, raffles for homemade quilts and other projects have brought in money to maintain the structure. In 1981, the women renamed their group the Lower Providence Women's Club, and in 1995, the building was designated a historic landmark by the Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. The club became part of Historic Charlotte's Leaky Roof Fund in 2004, making the Old Log Cabin eligible for grants and donations. In 2008, the club began a serious fundraising program for major renovations, and since that time has spent $59,000 on needed restorations without incurring a penny of debt. In 2012, the club's impressive efforts won it the Historic Preservation Recognition Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Fall Festival, Etc. Today the Lower Providence Women's Club welcomes new members to attend meetings and help with fundraising projects, which include a Summer Lecture Series, Fall Festival and Ladies Tea. This year the Fall Festival is Saturday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features more than two dozen vendors selling jewelry, candles, plants, pottery, children's toys, purses and more. There is also a barbecue plate lunch, petting zoo, ice cream truck and mobile mammography unit from Presbyterian Breast Center. All proceeds benefit continued restoration efforts. The club meets at 10 a.m. on the third Monday of every month. The Old Log Cabin is also available to rent for social activities. For more details, call 704-905-8334 or go to www.lowerprovidencelogcabin.org. The Lower Providence Women's Club welcomes new members and meets on the third Monday of every month. This bronze plaque signifes that the Lower Providence Community House is a historic landmark in Mecklenburg County. BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 73 FALL 2014