Remembering raleigh Coverage

Romance on Fayetteville Street: A 1940s Raleigh love story

From first jobs to first dates, Fayetteville Street has seen its share of young love. In honor of Valentine's Day, here's a classic 1940's Raleigh love story.

Heather Leah, WRAL digital journalist

Pigeons and peanuts: Remembering downtown Raleigh's 'Peanut Man'

Once upon a time, downtown Raleigh had a legend: The Peanut Man. He lived until he was 104. He served in WWII. And, rain or shine, he stood in Capitol Square selling hot peanuts to feed the pigeons.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Solved: The family story behind Raleigh's little Christmas tree, hanging over the Beltline since 1988

What's the story behind the little tree visible from the Beltline near Six Forks Road in Raleigh?

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Planes, trains, graves: NC lakes with history hidden beneath their waves

Thousands of people swim, fish and boat across the surface of North Carolina's large recreational lakes each year. However, many have no idea that just beneath the surface rests remnants of lost history, forgotten by time.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Remembering Raleigh: Popular pastimes and icons from each decade

From watching baseball at Devereux Meadow in the 1940's to listening to punk music underground beneath Cameron Village, from the circus room at Darryl's on Hillsborough Street to laser tag at Battlezone -- here's a look back at what each generation of Raleighites loved to do for fun.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Vanished Raleigh: What happened to the two-story cougar that overlooked Capital Boulevard?

There was a time when a giant, two-story cougar overlooked passing cars on Downtown Boulevard in Raleigh. If you lived in Raleigh during the era of larger-than-life roadside advertising campaigns, you may remember a time when giants roamed the city - and they were iconic.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

'That's all folks:' Raleigh's final Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Rialto -- for now?

Going to Friday night's midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Rialto has been a coming-of-age ritual for many young Raleighites. After decades of dancing to the 'Time Warp,' over a thousand people showed up last Friday for the final airing of the cult classic.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

NASCAR speedway near downtown Raleigh honors decades of famous local racers

Many of the old speedways that once brought racers to the Triangle area have been abandoned for decades. The Raleigh Speedway's remains are buried in the woods off Atlantic Avenue. The Occoneechee Speedway sits frozen in time, rusted race cars sitting in the woods near the Eno River. The Wake County Speedway, which started as a dirt track on a family farm, has outlasted them both.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Remembering Raleigh: Hundreds bid farewell to site of iconic music scene

The little brick building at 2 S. West Street in downtown may not look like much on the outside - but its basement holds decades of memories for those who attended The Fallout Shelter or FLEX. Soon, that building will be gone.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Abandoned mills, homes, graves hidden in woods at Umstead Park date back to 1800s

Before the modern day hiking trails, Umstead Park had a different kind of adventure: The land was home of an entire community--with mills, schools, churches and farms--and those ruins are still hidden out in the woods.

Heather Leah, WRAL digital journalist

Beauty and kindness: Hidden history of WRAL's Azalea Gardens

The blooming of the WRAL Azalea Garden has been a constant symbol of the return of spring.

Heather Leah, WRAL digital journalist

Snowstorm of 1915: Over a century ago this weekend, downtown Raleigh was buried in snow

Over 100 years ago this weekend, Raleigh was "flounsed in grasp of its greatest blizzard." Newspapers described Raleigh as "masses of slush and tangled wires" and said "communication by telephone, telegraph and almost by train [was] cut off with little chance of relief."

Heather Leah, WRAL digital journalist

Remembering Raleigh: Remnants of 1950s Piggly Wiggly preserved inside local store

Even today, pieces of the Piggly Wiggly are hidden in plain sight around the modern, local store - which is affectionately named NoFo at the Pig.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Remembering Raleigh: When Hearts Delight ice cream celebrated Valentines with kindness

Do you remember when a Raleigh ice cream shop was home to the world's largest collection of hearts? For Valentine's Day, we took a walk down memory lane to the 1980s, when Hearts Delight had celebrities scoop out ice cream to raise money for heart-related charities.

Hearts Delight: This 1980s ice cream shop in Raleigh had the world's largest collection of hearts

If you grew up in Raleigh in the 1980s, you likely remember the bubblegum ice cream topped with rainbow heart-shaped sprinkles served up in a magical little ice cream shop covered in thousands of hearts.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Fairy Forest: Visit Raleigh's secret fairy village hiking trail

Have you seen Raleigh's fairy forest, tucked away off a quiet hiking trail at the Annie Louise Wilkerson M.D. Nature Preserve?

Piledrivers and suplexes: When wrestling legends took over the WRAL anchor desk

If you lived in the Triangle in the 1960s and 70s, you probably already knew that a large wrestling ring, drawing in legends like Andre the Giant and Ric Flair, was once part of WRAL's studio.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Raleigh's controversial Light + Time Tower: A tragic love story

Many people have no idea the artist behind the controversial Light + Time Tower in Raleigh died before finishing his work. His heartbroken wife took over the project to ensure his light and legacy continued.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Snow day memories: Remember when this Glenwood Avenue snow photo meme took NC by storm?

Do you remember the Attack on Glenwood meme that went viral after winter weather put the area near Crabtree Valley Mall on lockdown?

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Do you remember when dinosaurs visited North Hills in the 1960s?

A look back at when Sinclair gas station held their iconic dinosaur exhibit at North Hills in Raleigh.

Remembering Raleigh: When life-sized dinosaurs roamed North Hills

Some locals recall a time in the 1960s when the enormous beasts visited North Hills Mall, a popular traveling exhibit from a company called Sinclair.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Remembering Raleigh: Nov. 28 marks anniversary of historic, deadly 1988 tornado

If you lived in Raleigh in November of 1988, you remember the tornado.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Mysterious miniature house: Hidden remains of a popular Christmas Village from the 1960s

Tucked away on a quiet neighborhood road is a little piece of Raleigh Christmas history dating back to the 1960s.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

How Snoopy's Hot Dogs transformed a gas station into a Raleigh icon

It's hard to imagine a time before Snoopy's Hot Dogs sat on the corner of Wake Forest Road and Whitaker Mill, but prior to 1978, a gas station stood on that corner.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer

Hidden History: Remains of the original site of the 1955 State Farmers Market

For over 60 years, the State Farmers Market has been far more than an easy way for locals to get fresh produce - it's been a hub for growing simple childhood memories grown in North Carolina culture. There's no better seasoning for fresh produce than savory childhood memories and sweet nostalgia -- and that's likely why the State Farmer's Market won the WRAL Voter's Choice Award for Best Produce.

Heather Leah, WRAL multiplatform producer