History of the Nevin Community

The Nevin Community was named around 1889, when a half acre of land and 62 books were donated by Squire John P. Hunter, for a school on Nevin Road off Statesville Road.

The name "Nevin" was fully established in 1891, when Nevin Post Office was in operation on Statesville Road near the school. It was located in a store belonging to Joseph Wardin. Mail was brought by horseback from Charlotte.
Nevin Post Office closed in 1902. The name "Nevin" was given by Joseph or Mollie Wardin, who were of Irish descent. It was the name of a location in Ireland.

Mr. and Mrs. Wardin sold an additional 2 1/2 acres to Nevin School in 1919, for $250. Across the road from the Wardin property, on Statesville Road, was a two story Victorian home built by W. J. Hutchison. His first son, Olin, was
born there in 1883. On his 111 acre farm he grew cotton, corn and wheat. In the 1900's, the house became Olin's home. He was School Councilman for Nevin School, and countersigned paychecks for teachers.

When the community needed a new school, the old frame schoolhouse became a community house. It had a hip roof, a porch across the front, and had a stage inside. The house was moved down the hill eastward to make room for a 4-room brick school. The new brick school burned in 1919, and the community house (original school) was used once again until another school was built on the same foundation. Nevin School closed in March 1955. Well remembered teachers at Nevin were: Margaret McConnell, Principal; Katie Lee Conley, Gladys Todd, Ruth Melton, Lillian Bates, and Edith Tarrant.

The Wardin family heirs reclaimed the Nevin School property after the school closed. Since 1959, it has been used as was purchased in 1965, and named Nevins Center, Inc.

Nevin Community remained an undeveloped, rural area while Charlotte grew southward. Blight and deterioration of the older homes prompted the need to organize for improvement. Nevin Community Organization, Inc., began meeting
on February 26, 1987, for the purpose of community improvement through cleanup, beautification and good quality development. The organization received tax exempt status in December 1988, in order to receive grants for community improvement.We received our first grant in November 1988, and began mailing newsletters to residents. Fund raising drives have enabled us to be able to erect "Nevin Community" signs at each entrance on Statesville Road. We are rebuilding the wonderful community spirit we had 30 years ago, and discovering the good neighbors around us.
---1989. Jean Davis Burris, Nevin Community President