Our community

On August 16, 1956, three Charlotte area businessmen, D.K. Sing, C.B. Phifer, and O.C. Griffin, bought a large wooded area (approximately 90 acres) on Monroe Road from Catherine McLaughlin. They had a vision to develop a neighborhood of beautiful homes and called their company Woodberry Forest, Inc. Surveys were made, restrictions (covenants) were drawn up, lots were put up for sale, contractors were hired, homes were built, and our first residents moved in on Woodberry Road on January 1, 1958. This new sub-division was considered to be "way out in the country.”

Prices for early lots ran from around $3,800 to around $5,000, and early homes were built for from around $15,000 to around $25,000. In 2024, homes are selling anywhere between $450K-$600K+.

Originally, only Woodberry Road, parts of Candis Drive, Gayle Avenue, and Dwight Street were included; but as lots continued to sell, Oline Place, Revlon Place, Lumarka Drive, and finally Summerhill Drive completed our neighborhood. 

In 1958, Independence Boulevard ended at East Mecklenburg High School, Wallace Road was the road to Mint Hill, the two lane Monroe Road was the only Charlotte to Monroe road, homes here had Matthews rural route addresses, and the bus line from Charlotte ended at Woodberry Road.

There was an abandoned Gold Mine in the area that is now Mason Wallace Park and lot buyers were required to sign away mineral rights before purchase. A sawmill was once located where Summerhill Drive is today and our water supply was from two very unreliable community wells. We even had a private school in a home within our community called Woodberry Forest School. Sometime in the early 1970's we were annexed into the city of Charlotte, and in the late 1980's Monroe Road was widened into four lanes.

Over the years since its establishment, two Garden Clubs were formed and a very active Neighborhood Association was created, featuring various activities such as a Spring Picnic, a Spring Garden Tour, and a “Yard of the Month” award given to the most attractive yard. Other events were added over time including a Summer Ice Cream Social, a Fall BBQ Social/Annual Business Meeting, Neighborhood Christmas Caroling/Luminaries, and more. Some of these events still remain today and we have grown into a mature, defined neighborhood composed of a variety of home styles with a mixture of young and old residents, enjoying a beautiful setting in Woodberry Forest. 

The goal of our Neighborhood Association is to foster a vibrant, safe, and welcoming community by enhancing the quality of life for all residents. This includes promoting neighborhood beautification, advocating for local resources and improvements, creating opportunities for social engagement, and ensuring open communication between residents and local government. Through these efforts, the association aims to build a strong sense of community pride and cooperation, ensuring the neighborhood remains a desirable place to live, work, and grow.