Off the Shelf

Kyle Fletcher’s Barbeque and Catering in Lowell, Gaston County, N.C.

Wilma Ratchford Craig of the former Gaston County Historical Society had already been taking pictures of historic places around Gaston County since the 1960s when she photographed the outside of a new restaurant, Kyle Fletcher’s Barbeque (the former Bland’s BBQ building), in 1997.

Kyle Fletcher started Kyle Fletcher’s Barbeque and Catering in Lowell with his wife Julie and brother-in-law Steve Deaton in 1996.

Daryl “Kyle” Fletcher of Gastonia passed away on January 9, 2025 at the age of 70.

Kyle Fletcher’s Barbeque and Catering, 4507 Wilkinson Blvd, Lowell, NC; exterior. (1997)

Photographer: Wilma Ratchford Craig (January 5, 1930 - June 3, 2020)

Kyle Fletcher’s Barbecue & Catering sign. (1997)

Photographer: Wilma Ratchford Craig (January 5, 1930 - June 3, 2020)

Sources:

Kevin Ellis, “Beloved Gaston County Restauranteur Dies - Business North Carolina,” Business North Carolina, last modified January 11, 2025, https://businessnc.com/beloved-gaston-county-restauranteur-dies/.

“Obituary Information for Kyle Fletcher,” https://www.mcleanfuneral.com/obituaries/Kyle-Fletcher?obId=34373019.

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Let's take a thrilling step back in time! In this episode, Kendall, Andrew and Angelique discuss Murder Road by Simone St. James.

Use the player below to listen or search for Gaston Speaks on your preferred podcast app. After listening, leave a comment and let us know what you think of what we think. And be sure to share the podcast with your closest friends or enemies.

Look for you next read at the NC Digital Library!

Next month's book is You Should See Me In a Crown by Leah Johnson.

We're Booked Up - The Matzah Ball

Time for a fun holiday read! In this episode, Kendall, Andrew, and Angelique discuss The Matzah Ball, a Hanukkah holiday romance by Jean Meltzer.

Use the player below to listen or search for Gaston Speaks in your preferred podcast app. After listening, leave a comment letting us know what you think. And then, share the podcast with all your friends and family and the Grinches in your life.

Don't forget to create your holiday playlist on Freegal!

Next month's book will be Murder Road by Simone St. James.

We're Booked Up - Finding Me

Join Kendall, Andrew, and Angelique for another episode of We're Booked Up. This time they're discussing Finding Me, an award-winning autobiography from Viola Davis.

Use the player below to listen or search for Gaston Speaks on your preferred podcast app. After listening, let us know what you think by leaving a comment, and be sure to share the podcast with all your friends and family (and your enemies, if you hate it).

And don't forget to check out the Hope United Survivor Network to learn what you can do to Give Hope.

Next month's book is Murder Road by Simone St. James.

We're Booked Up - Silent City

Time for another episode of We're Booked Up! Join Kendall, Andrew, and Angelique as they discuss Silent City, a noir thriller by Alex Segura

Use the player below to listen or search for Gaston Speaks on your preferred podcast app. After listening, let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

After a few listens to really appreciate it the episode, be sure to check out hoopla for access to ebooks, audiobooks, streaming music, and more!

Next month's book will be Finding Me by Viola Davis.

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Get excited because Kendall, Andrew, and Angelique are back for a 4th season!🎉

For this episode, they discuss Upside Down by Danielle Steel. It's certainly a book.

Use the player below to listen or search for Gaston Speaks on your preferred podcast app. After listening, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you think of what we think.

And then head over to GastonLibrary.Org to discover what your library has to offer!

Next month's book is Silent City by Alex Segura.

We're Booked Up

It's Season Finale time again! Which means it's time for the 3rd Annual Voticed Awards, wherein Kendall, Andrew, and Angelique discuss the best and worst of the season's reads and decide which ones deserve to be Voticed™.

Use the player below to listen or search for Gaston Speaks on your preferred podcast app. After listening, let us know what you think. Do you have a favorite character?

Next season's books will be:

Upside Down by Danielle Steel
Silent City by Alex Segura
Finding Me by Viola Davis
The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
Murder Road by Simone St James
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

Don't forget to sign up for Summer Reading at your favorite GCPL branch!