But the origins of the club were much more modest. Beginning in the early 1930's a group of mostly sporting dog fanciers began to meet and exchange knowledge and ideas about their hobby. They held matches at various locations around Charlotte, gradually attracting other individuals interested in the sport of dog showing. Shortly before WWII the group took advantage of an opportunity to purchase a barn located on a little over one acre of rural land. The site, several miles south of downtown Charlotte, was on Sleepy Hollow Road (now Tyvola Road, the main boulevard that leads toward the Charlotte Coliseum and the airport).
The founding members used their own donated funds as well as funds raised by the small group through various events. Little by little the barn was renovated into a fine clubhouse. Members held work parties and picnics as they created a large meeting room with paneled walls, kitchen, restrooms, and a separate room for board meetings. By that time, the Piedmont Kennel Club had already started carving out its niche in the world of dog cubs. AKC licensed shows were being held at places such as the old Radio Building, the old Coliseum (now Independence Arena), and the Park Center, eventually ending up with a more-or-less permanent show site at the Metrolina Fair buildings.
During the 1970's and the 1980's, as the Charlotte metropolitan area experienced a growth boom, the PKC clubhouse found itself at the northwest corner of a major exit on I-77, with hotels, restaurants, and suburban office buildings being constructed across the interstate. The club's property became an object of interest to major developers. Eventually, with the aid of lawyers and a very good friend of the club (a non-dog person), a deal was struck with an out-of-state group to sell the 1.3 acre site and use the proceeds to purchase a new, larger site on which to construct the club's own show building. The location was near Carowinds, not far from the South Carolina border. The PKC showplace and Clubhouse (a former residence) were dedicated in 1987, with the first show at the new location (the club's 76th all-breed dog show) being held on April 2, 1988. The rest, as they say, is current history.
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