Concord in Cabarrus County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Community Center
⎯⎯⎯
Canteen
Mr. Sandy Smith build his North Union Street residence around 1868 on what is now a parking lot at the southeast corner of Killarny Avenue and North Union Street. In 1918 the residence became a YMCA, to be later converted in 1940 to the Community Center shown in the top image. The Community Center included a museum, swimming pool, and a library which utilized the bookmobile also shown in the image.
During WWII the Concord Community Center, noted in the top image, was used as the USO Canteen. Many of the soldiers came to Concord every weekend from Camp Sutton in Monroe, NC. The depicted sign directed the soldiers to the nearby Church Street Armory for sleeping quarters. The steps which now lead to Concord's Veterans Memorial area are the exact same stps that once led to the Community Center. A concrete marker shown in the lower left was typical of the markers used through Concord in the mid-twentieth century.
This entire Community Center complex was demolished in the mid 1970's when a new library was constructed across Union Street. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic
this page online
Location. 35° 24.57′ N, 80° 34.838′ W. Marker is in Concord, North Carolina, in Cabarrus County. It is on Union Street South just north of Means Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 46 Union St S, Concord NC 28025, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Greater Charlotte. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: City Hall / Street Car (here, next to this marker); Odell, Coleman, and Gibson Mills (here, next to this marker); St. James Lutheran Church
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 19, 2021
2. Community Center / Canteen Marker and Mural
Photographed by Mark Parker, October 5, 2024
3. Community Center / Canteen Window
Photographed by Mark Parker, October 5, 2024
4. Mural series credits/ donors
Momentous: A Timeline of History
Shaping Sites of Concord
Artist: Sharon Dowell
Historic Descrνptions: Jim Ramseur, Mayor Pro-Tem
Shaping Sites of Concord
Artist: Sharon Dowell
Historic Descrνptions: Jim Ramseur, Mayor Pro-Tem
Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 23, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on October 9, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.
