Tim Jung: 111 Years of Jung Family History in Kannapolis | EP 63

Tim Jung sits down with the Rough Talk cousins to share the remarkable 111-year Jung family story in Kannapolis — from Chinese immigrant roots and early laundry businesses to the Buyer’s Mart on Main Street and a lasting legacy of education, service, and community.

This is one of the deepest local-history episodes we’ve recorded. Tim walks us through newly uncovered family records, the 1912 boat ticket that wasn’t the full story, the census that showed his grandfather already in America by 1901, life in the Concord laundry, raising eight children, the emphasis on education as the way out of poverty, downtown Kannapolis memories, the Buyer’s Mart furniture and appliance store, and his mother Dobby Jung’s radio career on WRKB.

A powerful reminder of the people who helped build Kannapolis.

0:06 Cold Open – Carolina Pickleball Club
0:33 Welcome & Dr. Dave’s Empty Seat
2:24 Introducing Tim Jung
3:35 111 Years in Kannapolis
4:13 The 1912 Boat Ticket Story
4:35 Southern Fried Rice & Family Research
5:04 Census Discovery: Granddad Here by 1901
5:45 The Original Laundry in Concord
6:06 New York Trip & Tong Wars
14:11 Liang Moi Becomes Daniel Jung
16:18 1911 Trip Back to China & Marriage
20:12 Mr. Cannon Brings the Laundry to Kannapolis
23:25 Raising Eight Children
26:23 The Sons Go to College
35:30 Education: The Way Out of Poverty
37:07 Growing Up in Kannapolis & A.L. Brown
42:09 The Buyer’s Mart
48:03 Mom Dobby Jung’s Radio Career
52:18 WRKB Days
56:57 Tim Jung Realty & Call It Closed
58:20 Closing Thanks to Tim & the Family
60:08 Hilbish Ford / Outro

📍 Filmed at Dayvault’s Garage in Kannapolis, NC
🎙️ Hosted by Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault

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Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

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