David Steele’s Kannapolis Show & Tell: A.L. Brown, Cannon Mills & Family Keepsakes | EP 65

David Steele returns for another Show & Tell episode packed with Kannapolis memories — A.L. Brown football and stadium cushions, 1967 Charles A. Cannon papers, mill safety towels, family keepsakes, Camp Cabarrus scouting stories, and the people who helped shape a local life after his father passed.

Filmed at the historic Dayvault’s Garage / Cannon News Center set, this one is pure K-Town Connection: real items, real stories, and the community that raised us.

0:00 Cold Open / Hilbish Ford
0:36 Weather & Downtown Buzz with Dr. Dave
1:53 Episode 65 – Show & Tell Returns
4:33 David Steele: The Man Who Started Show & Tell
6:15 David’s Hot Take – The Peter Max Car
9:09 Never-Washed Peter Max Shirt from Jimmy Cooper
9:51 The Night That Car Ran
12:18 Ryan’s 1967 Charles A. Cannon Birthday Papers
16:14 Forming the Kannapolis Sanitary District
19:17 Dad’s Sewing Machine Shop & the Hot Sauce Sandwich
26:00 A.L. Brown Football, Corduroy Hat & Mom’s Stadium Cushion
30:02 A.L. Brown New Testament & Mom’s Nursing Cap
35:10 Taylor Garden Center, Marcell’s & Midway Mentors
44:21 Mill Safety Towel & Dye Creek Stories
47:00 Scouting at Camp Cabarrus & Hubert Powell
51:08 Remembering Kannapolis Military Families
52:22 Closing Bell – Episode 65 in the Books
52:51 Carolina Pickleball Club

📍 Filmed at: Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage – Kannapolis, NC
🎙️ Hosted by: Chris Hughes, Ryan Dayvault & Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin

If you grew up around the mills, A.L. Brown, or just love hearing Kannapolis stories told by the people who lived them, this one’s for you. Like, subscribe, and share it with someone who still remembers the old company houses and Camp Cabarrus.

#KTownConnection #Kannapolis #ALBrown #CannonMills #LocalHistory #CabarrusCounty #RoughTalk

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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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