History of Charlotte

[KJHburg]

^^^ Hey the mover and shakers of uptown Charlotte were probably parking here in this lot and could afford cars with Corinthian leather LOL 

[KJHburg]

Another release from the KJ Vault of old Charlotte photos Tryon Street back in the 1980s 1981 to be exact. This one shows the old Independence Bldg before it was imploded. And that was very controversial at the time. What we got is General Hospital aka Independence Center. Looking south past the Square and all those buildings in this photo still exist save the Independence Bldg and small shops where Polk Park stands today. My old bank Home Federal now home to Chima, Cam Newton and Michael Jordan was still taking deposits at the Savings and Loan. 

[QCxpat]

November 7, 2017  --  Charlotte's 249th Birthday!

November 7, 1768 - "Charlotte Town" is incorporated, which means the new town will have a courthouse and a prison. Even though the residents disagree with laws set forth by Britain, they hope that naming the town for Queen Charlotte will win favor with her husband, England's King George III. As settlers clear the land in the growing community, they use rough-sawn logs to build homes. A few houses have bedrooms formed from partitions, but most have just one room, about 20 feet square, and one window. A stone chimney gives heat for warmth and cooking.

From humble frontier days:

 

To:

Charlotte Photo of the Day posted on September 22, 2016, by @KJHburg   "Skyline shot taken by my friend.  We do live in a beautiful city."

 

 Cover from Charlotte Agenda, 09/03/15, "Definitive guide to 34 Uptown Charlotte development projects."  Image of Charlotte by Clayton Sealey / @ricky_davis_fan_21 

Charlotte Photo of the Day, captured from Twitter, posted on 09/24/2016, by @ah59396   "John Lennon in the park.  Also this skyline shot is just cream."  

 

 

Here’s to a very happy 249th anniversary, Charlotte!  Many happy returns!  Mazel tov!     

Sources:

"The Growth of Charlotte: A History; 'The Courthouse Village, 1760s-1800s'" by Dr. Thomas W. Hanchett; Link at:  http://www.cmhpf.org/essays/HistEssay.html

 "The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story, 1768 - Charlotte Incorporated".  Link at:   http://www.cmstory.org/content/1768-charlotte-incorporated

Photo credit: http://www.cmstory.org/content/1768-charlotte-incorporated  

Photo credit:  https://www.charlotteagenda.com/15655/definitive-guide-to-34-uptown-charlotte-development-projects-with-analysis-and-map/

 

Edited November 7, 2017 by QCxpat

[KJHburg]

Here is one of the few building facade saves in uptown Charlotte I sure hope we can do something with the Polk building.  Raleigh is doing something with the old Dillon Supply Building facade incorporating it in a new 17 story office building downtown. 

[teeg]

If I recall correctly, they didn't just save the facade.  They saved the whole building.  Moved it across the street, dug out the parking garage, then moved it back and built over and around it.    

[KJHburg]

^^^ Yes that is correct and I remember seeing it move on tv.  

[Spartan]

On 11/25/2017 at 1:44 PM, KJHburg said:

Here is one of the few building facade saves in uptown Charlotte I sure hope we can do something with the Polk building.  Raleigh is doing something with the old Dillon Supply Building facade incorporating it in a new 17 story office building downtown. 

I've always loved that building, and the one they built around it is great too. There aren't many good examples of a pedestrian "arcade" in Charlotte, but that is certainly one of the best.

[Spartan]

Speaking of pedestrian arcades - does anyone know anything about this one over at 725 East Trade (across from the old Courthouse and jail)? Seems like it could have some potential someday as another Latta Arcade style building, but it would need more infill projects around it.

[Matthew.Brendan]

Wow that’s beautiful! How have I never noticed that?

[Scribe]

17 hours ago, Matthew.Brendan said:

Wow that’s beautiful! How have I never noticed that?

Maybe, the ugly Bail Bond building next to it distracted you.

[Matthew.Brendan]

Yeah unfortunately the surrounding blocks really leave a lot to be desired

[archiham04]

On 11/25/2017 at 3:56 PM, KJHburg said:

^^^ Yes that is correct and I remember seeing it move on tv.  

I remember seeing it in person, and thinking how surreal to see a brick wall in the middle of Tryon St.

[rancenc]

This is the current Amtrak station in Salisbury and from I understand, the original station in Charlotte on West Trade was built in the similar Spanish Mission style in the early 1900's.

Edited December 17, 2017 by rancenc

[KJHburg]

^^^^ Yes Charlotte a much larger Mission style train station much like the one in Salisbury.  

[Old Carolinian]

If the photo posts, here's the old Southern station on West Trade, demolished around 1962, I think:

[SgtCampsalot]

29 minutes ago, Old Carolinian said:

If the photo posts, here's the old Southern station on West Trade, demolished around 1962, I think:

Big improvement

 

[Cadi40]

God, Our train station looks like one for a village. Hopefully Gateway station will be better and gets built.

[KJHburg]

^^ The Mission style train station was probably one of the greatest loss of any building in Charlotte along with the old City Hall on North Tryon.  

And little Cary NC has great looking train station better than our current one. 

[QCxpat]

Incorporated as "Charlotte Town" on November 7,  1768, the Queen City crosses a historic milestone in 2018 -- the 250th Anniversary of her founding. 

Happy 2018 and Happy 250th Anniversary, Charlotte!

Links:

http://www.cmhpf.org/educhargrowth.htm  (The Growth of Charlotte: A History by Dr. Thomas W. Hanchett, The Courthouse Village, 1760s - 1800s)

http://www.cmstory.org/timeline  (History Timeline -- The Charlotte Mecklenburg Story, 1768 - Charlotte Incorporated)

 

Edited January 3, 2018 by QCxpat

[Norm2]

Is the city going to do anything special to celebrate its 250th anniversary?

[QCxpat]

Removed.

Edited January 2, 2018 by QCxpat
Removed.

[NCMike1990]

Source: http://www.charlottefive.com/50-years-of-southpark-history-hanging-in-one-office-hallway/

Edited January 2, 2018 by NCMike1990
Adding photo

[KJHburg]

Took a brisk walk down Tryon and snapped some photos of the historical buildings there today.  All are overshadowed by our newer high rises but we do have some older high rises and churches around uptown. 

1. 1st United Presbyterian 7th st. 1894  2. Dunhill hotel (Mayfair hotel) 1929 3. Iveys Building 1924  4/5. First National Bank bldg  112 S Tryon 1927 tallest bldg in town for 40 plus years.  6/7 Johnston Bldg 1924 8. Latta Arcade 1914  9. St Peters Catholic  1851 cornerstone laid.  

 

Some reason my Latta Arcade photo did not load here it is #8 on the list above. 

[KJHburg]

A few historical displays from the Museum of the New South and who says Charlotte is only about banking.   We invented the orange barrel for construction!   Charlotte Chamber ad from the 1920s was interesting.  And one sign from the Wells Fargo museum the trip to Camden SC from Charlotte took 48 hours talk about bad roads! And sadly the green First Union is now a museum piece. 

[QCxpat]

 @KJHburg   Your 2 recent posts (a brisk walk down Tryon on 01/06, and a visit to the Levine Museum of the New South on 01/07) filled me with a sense of pride and happiness about the City we love and cherish, Charlotte. 

The photos capture visually, artistically, and spiritually what Hugh Newell Jacobsen conveys in words: