History of Charlotte

[SgtCampsalot]

So they changed it... TO "latrine", yeah?

[NCMike1990]

History of the airport

 

[KJHburg]

Don't miss the history in Uptown. 2nd photo Here is the Tryon Plaza tallest building built in the 1920s completed in 1927 tallest in the city for 35 years!  To the left and right is the Interstate Tower or 129 W Trade.    1st photo is Iveys building built in 1924.  

[Boricua]

3 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Don't miss the history in Uptown. 2nd photo Here is the Tryon Plaza tallest building built in the 1920s completed in 1927 tallest in the city for 35 years!  To the left and right is the Interstate Tower or 129 W Trade.    1st photo is Iveys building built in 1924.  

Are Tryon Plaza and the Interstate Tower connected? Can you walk thru one building to the other?

[KJHburg]

No but they almost touch in corner

[SgtCampsalot]

1 hour ago, Boricua said:

Are Tryon Plaza and the Interstate Tower connected? Can you walk thru one building to the other?

 

1 hour ago, KJHburg said:

No but they almost touch in corner

I'll take a pic of this soon. You can walk out the back door from one into the back of the other.

There is a frustratingly almost-passable alley in between the two that acts as a rain gutter, currently blocked at the sidewalk on W Trade.

 

[SgtCampsalot]

Can anyone give a history of 1st St in Charlotte?

I'd long assumed Stonewall St used to be 1st St, and that it had originally extended over the tracks to the stub at Cedar. Then, since MLK Jr Blvd definitely used to be 2nd St, this narrative seemed even more likely to me.

But then today I noticed the 1st St stub between Mint St and Church St!

So what's the chronology? 

[videtur quam contuor]

At this site you will see that Stonewall was always Stonewall from a long time ago. Same for 1st street. There were more rail connections to the West Trade St station and those lines were on grade originally and cut 1st street west of Graham as now. There was another part of 1st west of the tracks. 

The light rail follows the tracks from South Carolina and that line had a curve north of Morehead to lead to the Southern RR station on West Trade. Hill was also cut off as seen on the map. Railroads made city streets adapt to them and not the other way.

https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ncmaps/id/9455/rec/20

Edited August 8, 2018 by tarhoosier

[KJHburg]

1st street would follow Levine Ave of the Arts but is broke off with the convention center and by the corner of the stadium property.  But yes there was and is a First St and no Stonewall has been Stonewall for a very long time.      Thanks for the link on the old map.

[SgtCampsalot]

1 hour ago, tarhoosier said:

At this site you will see that Stonewall was always Stonewall from a long time ago. Same for 1st street. There were more rail connections to the West Trade St station and those lines were on grade originally and cut 1st street west of Graham as now. There was another part of 1st west of the tracks. 

The light rail follows the tracks from South Carolina and that line had a curve north of Morehead to lead to the Southern RR station on West Trade. Hill was also cut off as seen on the map. Railroads made city streets adapt to them and not the other way.

https://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ncmaps/id/9455/rec/20

Thank you! Interesting, in this day and age it's so easy to think everything used to be a PERFECT GRID, when in fact it wasn't always so.
Side note: LOL at Seigle Ave formerly being labeled as "Segal":
 

[videtur quam contuor]

Also" Moorehead", extra O on that map

 

[SgtCampsalot]

On 8/5/2018 at 7:50 PM, Boricua said:

Are Tryon Plaza and the Interstate Tower connected? Can you walk thru one building to the other?

 

On 8/5/2018 at 8:12 PM, KJHburg said:

No but they almost touch in corner

 

On 8/5/2018 at 10:08 PM, SgtCampsalot said:

 

I'll take a pic of this soon. You can walk out the back door from one into the back of the other.

There is a frustratingly almost-passable alley in between the two that acts as a rain gutter, currently blocked at the sidewalk on W Trade.

 

Here are some pics of this. Apologies for the confusing descriptions, it's awk trying to orient oneself via photos. 

I was mistaken: these two towers are connected only via a "seal" type connection; the vertical black line photos. (Pics #4-5)

These back doors, however, share a loading bay of sorts (Pic #1) that opens out into a small shared lot for these two towers, and the two buildings on either side (Pic #3)

The older tower (Tryon Plaza) has two back doors: a pedestrian dais and stairwell (Pics #2-3) that opens into the shared back lot, and the shared loading bay, both doors about 15 feet apart. 

The newer tower's (Interstate Tower) it goes into their parking deck (Pic #6), which, frustratingly, is the only way to get from Trade St to there.

The "rain gutter" alley I was thinking of is actually in between the Interstate Tower and the single-story building next door that houses Hooters. Here's a shot from both sides of that alley! (Pics #7-9)

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

Edited August 15, 2018 by SgtCampsalot

[lit]

Somewhat related, the Charlotte Theater and Smart Shop shown here is the space now occupied by Hooters.

 

photo source: stolen from Tilt’s Facebook

[QCxpat]

CHARLOTTE MAGAZINE September, 2018,  "100 EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE CITY," by Chuck McShane

Great review of Charlotte's 250+ year history in a 20-page nutshell - Excellent! 

You'll be guaranteed to pass your local AP history exam with flying colors. 

3  Excerpts below:  (1) 1893 streetcar,  (2) 1909-11 first skyscrapers, and  (3) 1917 Camp Greene

COURTESY OF DUKE ENERGY ARCHIVES

The streetcar began transporting Charlotteans around in 1893, a few years after other cities in North Carolina. 

1893: Introducing the streetcar 
Anthony Foxx, U.S. Secretary of Transportation under the Obama administration and mayor of Charlotte from 2009 to 2013:

Charlotte in the 1890s was a mill town, largely built around the textile industry. It supported the economies in other cities such as Winston-Salem, the tobacco processing/tobacco powerhouse.

Charlotte was still trying to find its place in a lot of ways, and electric streetcars came on line (in 1893) a little after other places in North Carolina, such as Asheville.

The streetcar systems began to mature as real estate developers began to recognize their value. You began to see “streetcar neighborhoods” emerge—such as Dilworth, which really came to life as a result of having that particular form of transportation nearby.

I remember, when I was a kid in the 1980s, there was talk about something called “light rail.” I had no idea what they were talking about. I knew what a subway was, but they weren’t calling it a subway.

It really took the better part of 15 to 20 years of conversations before we were able to begin building out a rail system.

As mayor, I inherited the Great Recession, yet we were able to get a billion dollar Blue Line extension done, and to get the streetcar moving forward. Ultimately, the only thing that’s going to change the dynamics of traffic and longer travel times and congestion is action, and that’s the challenge for leadership in the city right now. —As told to Rachel Jones

1909-11: The first skyscrapers

COURTESY ROBINSON-SPANGLER CAROLINA ROOM, CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG LIBRARY

Then: Skyline from North Church and 7th streets, 1916
Looking east from North Church and 7th streets, you can see the city’s early skyscrapers. The above photograph was taken from the x-ray room of the D. A. Tompkins’ Charlotte Sanitarium.

LOGAN CYRUS

Now: Skyline from North Church and 7th streets, 2018
Today, the view nearby looks much different.

DURWOOD BARBOUR COLLECTION OF NC POSTCARDS, NC COLLECTION, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARY, UNC-CHAPEL HILL

A soldier at Camp Greene poses while riding a bear, the camp’s mascot. 

1917: Camp Greene opens
In 1917, the U.S. government selected Charlotte as training camp of the 41st, 3rd, and 4th Infantry Divisions, to support the World War I effort. Named for Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, the 6,000-acre site in west Charlotte hosted 60,000 soldiers at its peak, which more than doubled the 1910 census population of Charlotte of 34,000. —J.S.

About the Author -  Chuck McShane.   Author and historian Chuck McShane is the director of the Hamlet Depot and Museums in Hamlet, North Carolina, and a regular contributor to Charlotte Magazine. He published his first book, A History of Lake Norman: Fish Camps to Ferraris, in 2014. His work has also appeared in Our State, Lake Norman Currents, the Charlotte Observer, and the Fayetteville Observer. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on Twitter: @chuckmcshane

Link to Charlotte Magazine:   http://www.charlottemagazine.com/Charlotte-Magazine/September-2018/100-Events-That-Shaped-Charlotte/

Edited August 28, 2018 by QCxpat
spelling error

[NCMike1990]

Charlotte, 1968

1. Wilkinson Blvd. at Morehead St.

2. I-85/Statesville Ave.

3. AvidXchange site. That area had run-down housing back then. All of that was leveled in the 70s. In the background, you can see where the I-277/I-77  interchange would be built years later.

4. Independence Blvd. at Albemarle Rd.

5. I-77 under construction near Clanton Rd. looking south.

6. Sugar Creek Rd. and Asian Corner Mall.

7. Graham Street corridor

8. Lake Norman, largely undeveloped at the time. 

9. West Charlotte tank farm

10. Coliseum shopping center

 

 

[videtur quam contuor]

Photo #1:

The small building at the point of Wilkinson and West Morehead was for years a fine dining spot named The Gondola. Greek owned and known for top service at the time. The smoke or vapor in the middle distance was and is Charlotte Pipe and Foundry. The orange roof just visible at the bottom was Howard Johnson Motel with distinctive color and shape and later became the notorious Airport Parkway motel just demolished this year.

#3

Railroad at bottom left. Fine examples of residential vernacular architecture with central fireplace for homes without ducted heating. Fireplaces in several rooms connected to single chimney.

#4

Albemarle Road goes to the right and to the left is preparation for the new Town and Country Ford showroom and lot. This building took best advantage of the location with a semicircular building with floor to ceiling glass so cars could be seen from all directions at this intersection. Coliseum in background of course.

#10

Coliseum Shopping Center now under renovation. K-Mart just out of frame to the right, Eckerd Drug center and Park-n-Shop Grocery, "the wonder store of the two Carolinas", is at far end with distinctive low slope roof. That is likely a '59 Thunderbird foreground.

Lake, North End and tank farm show that institutional/industrial/utility uses change more slowly

Edited September 5, 2018 by tarhoosier

[Nick2]

@tarhoosier Thank you so much for your input here and on the photo of the day thread. I love hearing about the history of these places in the way that you've given it. You offer a unique point of view through experience that most of us wouldn't be able to get anywhere else.

[Trickbot]

Has Charlotte had any tall buildings like 10+ stories been demolished? I feel like tall old buildings are good for a city like ones in WS, GSO, or even the oldies in NYC and it would be a shame if we have lost some

[KJHburg]

45 minutes ago, Trickbot said:

Has Charlotte had any tall buildings like 10+ stories been demolished? I feel like tall old buildings are good for a city like ones in WS, GSO, or even the oldies in NYC and it would be a shame if we have lost some

Oh yes Hotel Charlotte where Carillon stands, the Independence Bldg where 101 N Tryon and Marriott uptown are,  the 8 story Professional Bldg where 400 North Tryon stands but we have these buildings still standing from 1920s 1930s the Dunhill, Tryon Plaza, Johnston Bldg, Hall House on N Tryon

But yes we have torn down several significant buildings due to the cities high growth versus the other NC cities whose downtowns  have not grown as fast as ours.  

[WCUP]

15 hours ago, KJHburg said:

Oh yes Hotel Charlotte where Carillon stands, the Independence Bldg where 101 N Tryon and Marriott uptown are,  the 8 story Professional Bldg where 400 North Tryon stands but we have these buildings still standing from 1920s 1930s the Dunhill, Tryon Plaza, Johnston Bldg, Hall House on N Tryon

But yes we have torn down several significant buildings due to the cities high growth versus the other NC cities whose downtowns  have not grown as fast as ours.  

 

I miss Hotel Charlotte, the building, and Hotel Charlotte, the restaurant dedicated to the building.    Sam is my favorite bartender in town. 

Maybe they will open a new one dedicated to the restaurant that was dedicated to the building.

[Windsurfer]

25 minutes ago, WCUP said:

 

I miss Hotel Charlotte, the building, and Hotel Charlotte, the restaurant dedicated to the building.    Sam is my favorite bartender in town. 

Maybe they will open a new one dedicated to the restaurant that was dedicated to the building.

HA!  Tell Sam that "A" from Lake Norman is still looking for him out on the water.

[KJHburg]

These are photos I took from 1991 at and near the World Trade Center.  Let's never forget those who lost their lives in 4 attacks back on that day 9/11/2001.    Of course this impacted Charlotte in more ways than you might think.  TIAA decided after the attack to move more of their business out of lower Manhattan and I think they relocated their data center from there to here.  I have met several people who left the NYC area and moved to Charlotte area.  One person I met was actually a survivor in the WTC collapse.  Lets pause and remember that day and pray it never happens again in our lifetimes.   From the KJ archives   The picture of the NYC skyline is very much like that day clear blue skies. 

[QCxpat]

11 hours ago, KJHburg said:

These are photos I took from 1991 at and near the World Trade Center.  Let's never forget those who lost their lives in 4 attacks back on that day 9/11/2001.    Of course this impacted Charlotte in more ways than you might think.  TIAA decided after the attack to move more of their business out of lower Manhattan and I think they relocated their data center from there to here.  I have met several people who left the NYC area and moved to Charlotte area.  One person I met was actually a survivor in the WTC collapse.  Lets pause and remember that day and pray it never happens again in our lifetimes.   From the KJ archives   The picture of the NYC skyline is very much like that day clear blue skies. 

Link to "I'm Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood

God Bless the USA - I'm Proud to be an American~ Lee Greenwood ...

▶ 3:28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps7xmW-9LXQ

1.  

Mar 30, 2012 - Uploaded by Hannah S.

Thanks to all the brave service men and women. I hope everyone is proud to be an American. I know I am. 

God Bless the U.S.A.   Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone
I worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife

I thank my lucky stars
To be living here today
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can't take that away

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea

From Detroit down to Houston
And New York to L.A.
Where's pride in every American heart
And it's time we stand and say

That I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.

Songwriters: Lee Greenwood

God Bless the U.S.A. lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

 

Photo by @KJHburg  - Originally posted in "Charlotte Photo of the Day" on Charlotte July 4, 2017

Edited September 11, 2018 by QCxpat
Include lyrics

[QCxpat]

From Charlotte Five, "Remembering 9/11 in Charlotte, from halting flights at the airport to evacuating banks," by Charlotte Five staff, September 11, 2018.

CLT AIRPORT CLOSED  -  UPTOWN EVACUATED - Excerpt:

"In Charlotte, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief and other city officials met to discuss how the city should respond to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. They’re especially concerned because of the major banks headquartered here, and the city’s place in the nation’s financial markets, City Council member Patrick Cannon said."

"By 10 a.m. workers in the 60-story Bank of America Corporate Center, Charlotte’s tallest building, began pouring through exits, saying they were told to go home.  We were told to get out of the building,” said investment banker Weston Andress, who works on the 11th floor.  "To think 10 to 20 people – I don’t how many people planned this thing.  This is going to shake up the whole world for a long time.”

N.B.:  Weston Andress is currently the Regional President, PNC Financial Service Group, and also the most recent past Chair of the Mint Museum Board of Trustees.

People gather for a memorial service at Romare Bearden Park in uptown Charlotte Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.

2,997 flags were placed in the park in the shape of the twin towers to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Photo by Todd Sumlin, Charlotte Observer

Link:  https://www.charlottefive.com/remembering-9-11-charlotte/

Edited September 11, 2018 by QCxpat
quotation marks

[KJHburg]

This night reminds me of a night back in September of 1989. 9/21/89 to be exact.  I just moved in my first new apartment in the hip neighborhood of SouthPark on Colony Rd.   (my apartment building later burned down then Grubb flattened the rest of the complex and built Morrison on it but I digress)  On that night I had watched the news and they kept saying we might have some affects of Hurricane Hugo .  KJ filled up his brand new Nissan Sentra my first car I was paying the payment on and got some cash out of my bank Home Federal.   Late in the night I was awaken by the sounds of trees coming down and then looking outside I saw transformers exploding all over the southpark area.  Next morning  Hugo was gone but the damage was done.  My new Nissan Sentra had its trunk smashed in by a tree limb.  Bradford Pears along Roxborough Rd was tossed like dandelions in the wind.  Of course my power was out but my good old Southern Bell landline phone worked and I called my parents up in the University city.  They had no power either.  I walked over to southpark mall and went to Eckerds inside the mall to buy some supplies.  No one in Charlotte expected this kind of damage.  A computer was hanging out of the window of then called One First Union Center the tallest in town.  Broken glass littered the streets of uptown.  Good thing no one lived up there back then except for a few 4th ward and way over the tracks in 3rd ward and a few in 1st ward.  Uptown and Southpark mall  were the 2 areas that never lost power while the rest of the city would wait 1-3 WEEKS AND YES I SAID WEEKS for power to return.  National Guard directed traffic at all major intersections.   Sailboats at the Lake Norman Yacht club were piled up like toys!  I tried to drive up Sharon Rd towards uptown on the morning after and had to turn around as trees blocked all the streets.  I decided to get over to 77 and then I-85 to go to my parents house right beyond the university.  That way worked and only a few down trees I had to drive around on Tyvola.  In my parents neighborhood I saw a Mercedes flattened like a pancake of one of my parents neighbors.  My parents had a gas grill and they and the neighbors just started cooking all the meats in their freezer hamburgers steaks pork chops and everyone ate well for a day or two.  after that the fun of it all wore off.  Incredibly frustrating to be thrown back in the 1800s with no power.  But you know what we survived.  I remember driving through Myers Park and thinking we will never had a tree canopy again with all these trees down.  But we did eventually.  for years I could tell what areas lost huge trees but it faded over the years.  So whatever happens to our fair city this weekend we will survive.  And thrive.  I for one will be praying for this storm to exit the area quickly with as little harm as possible. 

It deeply saddens me to see places I love damaged or flooded like New Bern, Wilmington, Surf City, Brunswick county all where I have good friends.  Please help out by giving your money.  Your time to volunteer to help cleanup,  Then in a few months make sure you plan trips to these impacted areas and spend money they will need it.   I will add a few photos of the impacted areas I took over last year.    1. New Bern historical flooding here  2. Oriental NC  very flooded 3.  Washington NC 4. Belhaven home of one of my favorite restaurants had 1-3 feet of water all downtown. 

Edited September 15, 2018 by KJHburg