Hill's Charlotte (Mecklenburg County, N.C.) City Directory [1944], Part 2

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1944
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > North Carolina > Mecklenburg County > Charlotte > Hill's Charlotte (Mecklenburg County, N.C.) City Directory [1944] > Part 2

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Amusements-Largest auditorium in city (also the largest in North Carolina) seats 5,000 persons. Total seating capacity of theatres, 7,500. 13 golf courses in city and suburbs, including 1 municipal course.

Hospitals-5, with total of 783 beds.

Education-Queen's College (for women) ; Johnson C. Smith University (for colored). 30 public schools, including 3 senior high and 2 junior high, 1 parochial school. Number of pupils in public schools, 17,897; in parochial, 180. Number of teachers in public schools, 554; in paro- chial, 8. Value of public school property, $4,294,587; parochial, $150,000; college, $1,000,000.

Public Libraries-7, including branches, with total of 60,000 volumes. 30 library service stations.

City Statistics -- Total street mileage, 320, with 150 miles paved. Miles of gas mains, 94; sewers, 276; motorbus routes, 111. Number of water meters, 18,150; light meters, 28,500; gas meters, 7,085. Capacity of water works, 16,000,000 gallons; daily average pumpage, 8,500,000 gallons; total gallons pumped in 1940, 3,129,782,000; miles of mains, 258; value of plant, $5,500,000. Fire department has 126 men, with 7 stations and 18 pieces of motor equipment. Police department has 101 men, with | station and 20 pieces of motor equipment.

CHARLOTTE "FIRSTS"

Charlotte is first in North and South Carolina in:

Population Telegraph business

Insurance

Warehouse facilities

Number of telephone connections

Motor-truck service

Number of long-distance telephone calls

Railway express

Financial business

Aviation (general)

Bank clearings

Bank debits

Retail sales

Postal receipts

Air mail, air express and air passen- ger business Newspaper circulation

Wholesale sales

Radio broadcasting

Railroad facilities

Effective buying income per capita

School enrollment

Motorbus transportation

Airplane service

National corporations maintaining branches and offices

The Mint Museum of Art

Charlotte Has More Privately-Owned Planes Than Any Other City in the South

MUNICIPAL

Douglas Airport, Owned

Charlotte's Municipal Airport is in the seventh year of operation and fias shows i raj 1 growth in services to the public in that short time.

A radio beam tower and control building were erected on airport property during 1939. This enables practically all planes, flying under adverse weather conditions, 'o land safely a+ the airport. The U. S. Army has established an Army Air Base uni' a' the Municipal Airport, wrh in expenditure of more than $2.500,000 in the development of this base and the airport, and thir wil be enlarged later.

Charlotte's Two Airports Have Facilities to Meet All the Needs of Any Flyer

AIRPORT by City of Charlotte

Eastern Air Lines operate seven planes daily through Charlotte. Over 2,500 visiting planes, excluding air liners, have landed at the airport during the last twelve months.

Besides the Municipal Airport, Charlotte has a privately-owned airport-the Cannon Airport, which is complete in every detail.

INTRODUCTION

HISTORY

Charlotte, the county seat of Mecklenburg, named for Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, wife of George Ill of England, was incorporated as a town in 1768. The name Mecklenburg was given to the county in honor of the Queen's birthplace. The early settlers were made up of Scotch-lrish from Pennsylvania and Virginia; Germans from the same sections; and English, Scotch, Germans, Huguenots and Swiss from the South by way of Charleston.

A court house, constructed of logs, had been built in the town a few years previous to its incorporation, and the county court was held there, which probably accounted for Charlotte being selected as the county seat. The court house was located at the intersection of the streets now known as Trade and Tryon.

Charlotte is famed as the place where the first Declaration of Inde- pendence was made on May 20, 1775.

Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

"Resolved: That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby dissolve the political bonds which have connected us with the mother country; and absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British Crown, abjuring all political connection with a nation that has wantonly trampled our rights and liberties, and inhumanly shed the innocent blood of Americans at Lexington.

"Resolved: That we do hereby declare ourselves free and independent people; that we are and of right ought to be a sovereign and self-governing people, under the power of God and the general congress; to the maintenance of which independence we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual coopera- tion, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.

"Resolved: That all officers, both civil and military, in this county, be entitled to exercise the same powers and authorities as heretofore; that every member of this delegation shall henceforth be a civil officer and exercise the powers of a justice of the peace, issue process, hear and determine controversies according to law, preserve peace, union and harmony in the county, and use every exertion to spread the love of liberty and of country, until a more general and better organized system of government be established."

Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte

INTRODUCTION

Early Schools and Education

The people of Mecklenburg brought with them, in the settlement of their new country, the love of education. The first schools were conducted in the homes of the teachers of their patrons. Prior to the time of the American Revolution a number of school buildings had been erected. Queens College, or Museum, located within Charlotte, and within the territory of Sugar Creek Church, was the most noted school of Colonial times in Mecklenburg County. This college was located on a lot on South Tryon Street, where later, for many years, stood the Mecklenburg County Court House.

Early Churches and Religion

Seven churches of importance in Colonial days in Mecklenburg County were: Sugar Creek, Rocky River, Poplar Tent, Hopewell, Steel Creek, Provi- dence and Centre. The congregations of these early churches were composed of men and women of strong character, high motives and dignified demeanor. To their influence throughout the community and upon succeeding generations may be attributed the fine type of Christian citizenship which has characterized the people of Mecklenburg County. Many members of the families composing these seven Colonial churches have gone out to other sections of the U. S., particularly to the Southwestern and Middle Western sections of the country, to establish homes and to carry with them the fine ideals of citizenship and Christian influence of their Mecklenburg ancestry. Numbers of the descendants of these Mecklenburg citizens who moved to other parts of the U. S. make pilgrimages to the venerable churches to read upon tombstones in the old burying grounds records of the lives of their forefathers. Upon anniversary occasions of these historic churches, all-day services are held and men and women from many distant states are numbered among the persons in attend- ance.

CHARLOTTE TODAY

Thirty years ago the South began to arouse from her bed of rich, deep traditions and better herself. There is a new South today-an onward-driving pulsating South in industry, agriculture and finance.

City Armory-Auditorium, Charlotte

INTRODUCTION

Fundamentally successful industries develop best where abundant raw materials, mechanical power and stable population combine. Tremendously rich in natural resources, power and raw materials, the South has marched forward with seven-league boots, and today, the economic advantages result- ing from the development of her resources are leading the trail of industry southward.

This is true, not only in the textile field, where advantageous conditions of power, climate, labor and living conditions at the source of raw materials have already transferred the center of industry from New England to the South, but in other lines of diversified manufacturing as well.

North Carolina today is the pacemaker of the South; it leads in textile manufacturing and hydro-electric power development, and Charlotte is the center of a textile manufacturing territory having 770 mills, operating over 10,000,000 spindles and consuming more cotton than any other section in the world.

Charlotte is the center of one of the largest hydro-electric developments in the U. S., the total horsepower developed and in immediate prospect of developing being more than a million.

It is the largest center in the South for textile mill machinery and equip- ment, practically all the large companies in the U. S. and England handling their entire business in the South through Charlotte offices and plants.

It is the "Southern Market" for dyestuffs, laboratories and offices being maintained here by the leading dye corporations of the country.

Charlotte Country Club

Charlotte has annual payrolls of over $12.750,000 from 285 widely diversified manufacturing and industrial plants. This does not include war plants.

INTRODUCTION

Charlotte's Greatest Asset

The climate of Charlotte is outstanding, and can be classed as the city's leading asset. The U. S. Weather Bureau has made records of Charlotte's climate for the past 45 years and the fact is developed that the people of this city live the year 'round in a temperature which averages 60.2 degrees. The mean maximum temperature is 69.5 degrees and the mean minimum is 50.9 degrees. The vicinity is favored in wind and rain, in sunshine and shadow. Agricultural activities may be pursued practically without interruption through- out the year.

Manufacturers and Manufacturing

Charlotte has many distinct advantages to offer the manufacturer-four competing rail lines, low freight rates, pure water and a convenient location. Manufacturers should investigate this thriving city. Living conditions are ideal. Climate is mild and pleasant, and schools are among the finest in the South. Excellent hotels and shops. Cordial social life. Several excellent golf courses.

Power

Charlotte is the home of the Duke Power Co., operating one of the best steam and hydro-electric systems in the world. Southern electric companies are tied up into a great super-power zone, and abundant "white coal" assures ample power at low cost.

Labor

Charlotte's labor is of the finest in the country today-native, white, sober, industrious. Labor troubles are practically unknown and the labor turnover is small.

Central High School, Charlotte

Textiles

Here the textile development of the South is centering. Seven hundred seventy mills operate 10,000,000 spindles within 100 miles, and a great busi- ness has grown up in supplying these mills with dyestuffs, cotton, machinery and equipment of all kinds.

INTRODUCTION

As a Manufacturing Center, Charlotte Offers:

1. Low power rates for manufacturing purposes.

2. Close proximity to the sources of all material for finished products.

3. Cotton, cotton yarns, cottonseed, cotton oil, tobacco, peanuts, kaolin, wood pulp, lumber, etc.

4. Logical location for a manufacturer of commodities for export through the ports of Norfolk, Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah.

5. A very desirable type of high-class labor available to manufacturers.

6. Mild climate conditions throughout the year. There are nine months of exceptional open-season weather.

7. The adequate transfer facilities of four railroads, with daily terminal facil- ities of 5,200 carloads.

8. Desirable living conditions and unusual residential developments.

Trade Center and Ideal Distribution Point

Charlotte has a greater population within a 50-mile radius than Rich- mond; a greater population within a 100-mile radius than Atlanta. Char- lotte is the geographical and business center of the Carolinas.

50-mile radius 100-mile radius

Richmond 468,000 2,124,000

CHARLOTTE

583,000 1,972,000

Atlanta

711,000

1,904,000

Catawba Hydro-Electric Plant of Duke Power Co., Charlotte

Charlotte's Trading Territory

Population of city and suburbs, approximately 150,000

Population within 25-mile radius. 250.000

Population within 50-mile radius, 650,000

Population within 75-mile radius. ..

1.200.000

Population within 100-mile radius, .. 1.972,000

Population within 150-mile radius. ,. 4,500,000

INTRODUCTION

Charlotte offers the finest opportunities of today as the logical location for new industries, distributors, wholesale houses and business interests of every description that wish to take advantage of the manufacturing and trade opportunities in this rapidly-developing section, the richest trading territory in the South.

CHARLOTTE'S GROWTH

Population

1850 U. S. Census .1,065

1941

1,159,172,561.00

1860 U. S. Census

2,265

1870 U. S. Census

4,473

1880 U. S. Census

7,094

Carloadings Inbound

1938

36,793

1910 U. S. Census 34,014

1939

40,852

1920 U. S. Census 46,338

1940

45,552

1930 U. S. Census . 82,675

1943

57,839

1940 U. S. Census. 100,899

5-mile-radius (including Charlotte)

150,000

Industrial Plants

1900

1943

31,027

Express Receipts

1915

$ 315,000.00

1927

above 700,000.00

1939

1,100,000.00

1938

260

1939

277

1943

285

Bank Resources

1900

$ 3,900,000.00

1910

9,970,000.00

1920

41,111,524.00

1923

42,143,554.00

1924

47,333,988.80

1925

60,000,000.00

1926

66,593,522.28

1927

77,207,866.92

1928

77,587,836.44

1932

47,331,867.00

1937

79,304,000.00

1938

94,452,735.77

Value Building Permits

1923

$5,263,340

1925

7,363,805

1927

5,449,364

1928

7,415,612

1936 2,741,270

1937

3,513,708

1927

46,479,955.20

1938

2,917,576

1928

46,475,693.14

30,563,805.15 1932

1937

69,937,000.00

1938

86,845,519.40

1939

206,288,680.25

1940

234,012,455.99

1941

294,663,259.19

1943

385,567,229.00

Bank Clearings

1926

$599,069,907.54

1927

654,758,277.97

1928 .

685,895,377.79

1929

725,602,773.24

1932

. 404,084,638.69

1936

651,731,959.03

1937

726,253,626.91

1938

769.108,200.00

1939

735,226,831.37

Real Estate Taxable Value

1927 (City) . $127,609,350

1939 (City and

County) 139,331,525

1940

(City and

County) 145,230,795

1943 (City and

County ) 163,434,015

Tax Rate

City (1943)

$1.33

County (1943) .78

Total

$2.11

1939

221,531,351.89

1940

252,468,994.05

1941

314,725,041.27

1943

406,690,971.00

Bank Deposits

1926

$40,005,709.48

1939

5,379,120

1940

4,285,729

1941

4,835,966

1943

274,811

1910 108

1925

200

1930

167

1937

183

1940

1,135,000.00

1943 713,617.86

Outbound

1938

11,241

1939

13,963

1940

16,439

1890 U. S. Census. 11,557

1900 U. S. Census 18,091

1940 . 847,446,979.74

1942 1,739,118,000.00

1943 .1,868,817,678.00

Note: During 1939 two new U. S. Housing projects, named the Fair- view Home (for colored) and the Piedmont Courts, and in addition, two new hospitals (Presbyterian and Memorial) were started, with build- ing permits totaling more than $2,- 364,000. This explains the high building figures for 1939. The 1940 total building permit figures show what was done in private build- ing that year, before wartime curtail- ments began.

INTRODUCTION

Charlotte's Post-Office Receipts

1921

$ 460,003.00

1933

$ 766,641.92

1923

600,000.00

1934

834,760.21

1924

661,567.00

1935

890,870.69

1925

722,672.54

1936

950,589.00

1926

752,837.75

1937

1,028,553.02

1927

785,127.57

1938

1,046,183.24

1928

842,857.07

1939

1,122,790.68

1929

843,330.53

1940

1,190,044.36

1930

788,094.41

1941

1,274,644.33

1931

727,720.75

1942

1,295,419.68

1932

736,605.66

1943

1,418,584.00

Federal Reserve Bank

The Carolina Branch of the Fifth District Federal Reserve Bank, during 1936, cleared 8,652,009 checks valued at $1,803,371,000; during 1938, 9,464,000 checks valued at $1,811, 118,000; during 1939, 9,899,000 checks valued at $2,093,793,000; during 1940, 11,182,000 checks valued at $2,603,114,000; and during 1943, 15,825,000 checks valued at $5,777,- 406,000.

Miscellaneous Statistics

Fire loss: 1940, $182,491; 1941, $209,347. Births: 1943, 3,969. Deaths: 1943, 1,187.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INVITES INQUIRIES

The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce extends an invitation to outsiders to visit this city and experience the Charlotte spirit of good-will and cooper- ation. The Chamber, with C. O. Kuester as business manager, gladly supplies information regarding Charlotte to all who write or call. The Chamber of Commerce also invites the outside public to tune in on WBT, Charlotte's 50,000-watt radio broadcast station, one of America's finest and best. Also on WSOC and WAYS (NBC Blue Network ).

Mecklenburg County Court House, Charlotte

INTRODUCTION

QUEEN'S COLLEGE

Queen's College has an interesting history of 87 years. Many forces have contributed to its development. Founded in 1857 by a group of Christian leaders, the institution purposes to send into the nation to strengthen our civilization and to lead new generations, a continually-flowing procession of educated young women, with intellects trained to think, with personalities graced with cultured charm, and with lives motivated by Christian principles and loyalty.

The College is fully accredited by the North Carolina College Conference and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. It is the Presbyterian Educational Association of the South.

The College campus is located in the heart of Myers Park, one of Char- lotte's most beautiful residential sections. The city, the largest in the two Carolinas, offers much to students through the many civic organizations which contribute to the educational and cultural life of the community.

The College accepts the liberal arts curriculum as basic, a program of education proved effective for more than 300 years. Diverse in scope, the curriculum includes instruction in the traditional liberal arts and sciences, in pre-vocational subjects, and in the fine arts.

All departments of the College function in vital connection with the community. From this association, students gain in practical and cultural values, and in turn they contribute of their resources.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY Gained 23,855 Population, 1930-1940

Mecklenburg County, according to the 1940 U. S. Census, had a popu- lation of 151,826, an increase of 23,855 over 1930. The increase was approxi- mately 18% for the ten-year period.

The population of Charlotte was established as 100,899 by the 1940 Census, an increase of 18,224 over 1930. This means that all but 5,631 of the increase in the county's population was within the city limits of Charlotte.

The Census revealed that Mecklenburg County had 3,136 farm.

The population of Charlotte Township, which includes a fringe of land all the way around the city limits, was set at 113, 163. Nearly all the county's gain was in the city and Charlotte Township.

CALENDAR OF HISTORICAL DATES

1748 First permanent settlers in Mecklen- hurg County,

1749 Earliest land grants from the Crown.

1750 Trade routes with Charleston, S. C., es- tablished over Indian trails.

1754 Meeting of King Hagler, chief of Ca- tawba tribe, and commissioners ap- pointed by the governor to establish amnlcable relations between Indians and the settlers,

1762 Mecklenburg County created.

1766 Log court house bullt.

1767 March 15. Birth of Andrew Jackson In the sontheastern section of Meck- lenburg County, now Union County. Thomas Polk's sawmill and grist-mill begin operation.

1768 Charlotte Is Incorporated. County divided; upper half hceomes Tryon County.

1771 Presbyterian ministers perform mar- riages, a privilege theretofore re- stricted to ministers of the Estab- lished Church and justices of the peare.

1771 Charlotte made county-seat. Popula- tion. 200.

Queen's Museum hecomes successor of Queen's College.

1775 May 1. Because of dissatisfaction with the administration of Governor Josiah Martin, Thomas Polk is auth- orized to call a meeting of delegates from each district.

May 20. Assembly held in the court house in Charlotte.

Mecklenburg Declaration of Indepen- dence approved and read. Captain James Jack deputized to take docu- ment to Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

May 31. Assembly reeonvene's and draws up another set of resolutions. called the Resolves.

June 23. Captain Jack arrives in Phila- delphia with the Declaration of Inde- pendence. Congress is preparing ad- dress to the king, repudiating desire for independence, so Deciaration is not presented,

1776 John Phifer, Robert Irwin and John MeKnitt Alexander, representatives of the county In Congress, Instructed to declare for Independence.

1777 Mecklenburg troops ordered north; en- page in hattles of Germantown and Brandywine; spend winter with Washington at Valley Forge.

INTRODUCTION

1780 Sept. 26. Battle of Charlotte: Corn- wallis occupies town.

Oct. 3. Melntyre Farm skirmish (Bat- tle of the Bees).

Oct. 7. British Colonel Patrick Fergu- son killed at Battle of Kings Moun- thin and his force defeated.

Det. 12. Cornwallis withdraws from Charlotte, referring to the place as a "hornet's nest."

1751 Feb. 1. 300 Revolutionaries defeated at Cowan's Ford, near Charlotte, by Cornwallis; General Wm. Davidson slain.

1790 Population, 325.

1791 George Washington visits Charlotte.

1792 Cabarrus County created from eastern section of Mecklenburg. Andrew Jackson licensed to practice law in Charlotte. U. S. Post Office established.

1795. Nov. 2. James Knox Polk, 11th Presi- dent of the U. S., born in one-room log cabin 12 miles south of Charlotte 1799 Gold discovered in county.

1812-14 Five companies of Mecklenburg troops serve throughout War of 1812.

1815 Census shows 70 families.

1825 First newspaper established, "Catawba Journal."

1$30 Population, 730. First fire engine pur- chased; cost $100.

1837 Branch of the U. S. Mint begins opera- tions.

1838 Charlotte Male Academy opens.

1840 Population, 849, including 301 Negroes.

1842 Union County formed from southeast- ern section of Mecklenburg.

1847 Company of dragoons, under Green W. Caldwell, leaves for Vera Cruz to serve in the Mexican War.

AS49 Contract let for grading railroad from Charlotte to Columbia, S. C.

1850 Population, 1,065.

1852 First passenger train arrives; picnic attended by crowd estimated at 20.000.

1854 First steam power used in Leroy Springs' flour mill.

1856 Railroad from Charlotte to Goldsboro completed.

1857 Charlotte Female Institute organized.

1859 Charlotte Military Academy opens, D. H. Hill, headmaster.

1860 Population, 2,265.

1861 April. U. S. Mint appropriated for mili- tary organization. Max. Drilling of volunteers for the Army of The Confederacy begins. Faculty and cadets of Charlotte Mili- tary Academy taken to Raleigh to drill troops.

1862 Center of naval ordnaner moved to Charlotte from Norfolk, Va.

1861 Jan. 7. Charlotte's depots and ware- houses, containing vast amounts of Confederate munitions and supplies, destroyed by fire at a loss of $10,000,- 000.

1865 April 15. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, arrives with his cabinet and 1,000 cavalry, News of Lincoln's assassination.

April 20. Last full meeting of Confed- erate cabinet held at home of Colonel Wm. Phifer on North Tryon St.

June. Colonel Willard Warner and 180th Ohio Regiment occupy Char- lotte.

1867 Biddle University for Negroes, now known as Johnson C. Smith Univer- sity, established.

1868 Mint reopened as an assay office, but coinage not resumed.

1869 Cotton sold at 35c a pound.

1570 Population, 4, 173.

1872 Last of Federal troops depart.

1873 First graded school in state organized in Charlotte.

1871 Last stage line between Charlotte and Wadesboro discontinued.

1880 Population, 7,091.

1×81 First cotton mill begins operation.

1887 Electric lights installed. Horse cars first appear.

1890 Population, 11,557.

1891 Charlotte Public Library organized.

1893 Electric power substituted for horse power in street railways.

1898 Two companies from Charlotte in North Carolina regiment land in Havana in Spanish-American War.

1900 Population, 18,091.

1901 Southern Power Co. organized by James D. Duke and W. States Lee.

1909 First skyscraper, the Realty (Inde- pendence ) Building, constructed.

1910 Population, 34,014.

1917 Camp Greene, temporary U. S. Army cantonment, established in Charlotte.

1920 Population, 46,338.

1927 Charlotte branch of Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond opens.

1930 Population, 82,675.

1936 American Legion Memorial Stadlum completed.

Municipal Airport opens.

Mint Museum of Art opens.

193% Buses replace street cars.

1940 Population, 100,899.

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ABBREVIATIONS

acet ... accountant

addresso

addressograph

ady

... advertising

agrl ... agricultural

art ..... agent

al ... alley

alt ........ altcration

Am .. American

appr

apprentice

apts .... apartments

archt .. arehitect

asmblr ... assembler

Assn .. Association

assoc ........ associate asst ..... assistant

attendant

atndt .

.....

atty

.....

attorney

aud ..

........ auditor

auto ... automobile exp

auto opr ... automatic operator

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Hill's Charlotte (Mecklenburg County, N.C.) City Directory [1944], Part 2

Author: Hill Directory Company. Publication date: 1944 Publisher: Hill Directory Co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: Hill Directory Company.
Publication date: 1944
Publisher: Hill Directory Co.
Number of Pages: 1214