The post-WWII era brought rapid development to Charlotte, and the city grew steadily through the 1960s. Charlotte’s non-white population increased by 50.5% between 1950 and 1960, rising from 37,511 to 56,471. The city divided along lines of race and income, with wealthy white families in the southeast, low- and moderate-income whites in the northeast and southwest, and African Americans concentrated in the northwest after government-sponsored urban renewal policies destroyed the Brooklyn community. Federal urban renewal programs, active from the 1950s through the 1970s, displaced thousands of minority families nationwide and destroyed more affordable housing than they created.
Berry Hall right after construction; the ground in front is still dirt. The typed label on the back of the photo reads “A College Dormitory, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte.”
JCSU students outside of Biddle Hall, a very early view of the campus. The front is labeled in pen: “Block Session.”
The Osborne Motel was located at 5621 North Tryon Street in Charlotte, North Carolina, on US 29 North.
The Manger Motel was located at the corner of North Tryon and 10th Streets in Uptown Charlotte.
The Cornelius Branch of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County system. This building has since been replaced.
Rosedale House is also known as the Craig-Davidson House, in honor of its two previous owners. Built around 1780, it is located on North Tryon Street.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was first built in 1857, then rebuilt between 1880 and 1892. Located at the corner of 7th and North Tryon Streets, it is the oldest Episcopal Church in Charlotte.
The birthplace of America’s Eleventh President, James Knox Polk, is located in Pineville, North Carolina. The cabin has since been restored. Polk was an 1818 UNC Chapel Hill graduate. He became President of the United States on March 4, 1845.
Located on Dilworth Road, the John Henry Phelan family of Beaumont, Texas donated the funds to build Saint Patrick in loving memory of his parents, Patrick and Margaret Adele Phelan. Frank Frimmer, an Austrian native known for remodeling famous Old World churches, designed and supervised construction of the church, with its gray stucco face, 400-seat nave, balcony, and 77-foot-tall tower. The groundbreaking took place on March 17, 1939. On September 4, 1939, Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness of Raleigh consecrated the church under the patronage of Saint Patrick. It became the first Catholic church in North Carolina to be consecrated immediately upon completion, and in 1942 became a parish with Msgr. Arthur R. Freeman as pastor. On January 12, 1972, Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Charlotte, and on that same day St. Patrick Church became the Cathedral of St. Patrick.
Presbyterian Hospital began as a private institution in 1898, but was later presented as a gift to local Presbyterian Churches in 1903. This is the second location of the hospital. The hospital began occupying the buildings formerly owned by Elizabeth College in 1917. It is located at the intersection of Hawthorne Lane and Elizabeth Avenue.
Located on Dilworth Road, the John Henry Phelan family of Beaumont, Texas donated the funds to build Saint Patrick in loving memory of his parents, Patrick and Margaret Adele Phelan. Frank Frimmer, an Austrian native known for remodeling famous Old-World churches, designed and supervised construction of the church, with its gray stucco face, 400-seat nave, balcony, and 77-foot-tall tower. The groundbreaking took place on March 17, 1939. On September 4, 1939, Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness of Raleigh consecrated the church under the patronage of Saint Patrick. It became the first Catholic church in North Carolina to be consecrated immediately upon completion, and in 1942 became a parish with Msgr. Arthur R. Freeman as pastor. On January 12, 1972, Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Charlotte, and on that same day St. Patrick Church became the Cathedral of St. Patrick.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is the oldest Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charlotte. Worship services were first held in 1859. The church occupied a number of facilities, including a church on North Tryon Street, prior to moving to Queens Road.
The Charles R. Jonas Federal Building is a historic two-story limestone structure in the neo-classical design. Completed in 1915, it is located at 401 West Trade Street in Charlotte. At various times it has served as a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and as a United States post office. In 1975, the building was renamed in honor of long-serving North Carolina Congressman Charles R. Jonas, and was transferred to the city in exchange for land in the fall of 2005. The city leases the building to the federal government for continued use.
The Hezekiah Alexander House is the oldest home in Mecklenburg County. Made of stone and log timbers, it was built in 1774. Alexander was a prominent farmer and politician in the county. It is located off of Shamrock Road.
The Mint Museum of Art is located on Randolph Road. The structure is the original United States Mint that once stood on West Trade Street. It was moved to its current location sometime in the 1930s and opened in 1936 as an art museum. Today it houses great works of art.
Freedom Park is located between Princeton Avenue and East Boulevard. This popular park was built to honor the men and women from Charlotte who fought and died for their country during World War II.
The patio-reception area of the House of Lance in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Interior shot of the former Anderson’s Restaurant on Elizabeth Avenue. Founded by Jimmie Anderson in 1946, the restaurant closed its doors in 2006. It was famous for its pecan pie.
Temple Beth El was formed in 1942 and is now located on Providence Road.
Temple Israel was formed in 1916. The first building was on W. 7th Street. In 1955, the synagogue moved to 1014 Dilworth Road. This building was demolished in the early 1990s when the congregation moved to new facilities at Shalom Park off of Providence Road.
Photograph of a water well at Rural Hill Plantation. Rural Hill was the home of General William Lee Davidson, who died at the Battle of Cowan’s Ford in 1781. Davidson College was named for the General.
![[Factually Corrected] Senator John F. Kennedy, 1960](https://www.bygonely.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Charlotte_Historical_photos_608.jpg)
Senator John F. Kennedy campaigning during the 1960 Presidential election. He came to Charlotte on September 17, 1960. Front seat: the driver, County Police Chief George Stephens, and Governor Luther Hodges. Back seat, from left to right: David Clark, Senator Kennedy, and Terry Sanford.
For more information regarding the Springs-Wilson House, see “The Plantation World Around Davidson.”
A picture of the Home Federal Savings and Loan Building prior to its demolition in 1965. Located at the corner of Fourth and Tryon Street, the photograph was taken on April 1, 1965. This building was once the Buford Hotel.
A picture of the Home Federal Savings and Loan Building prior to its demolition in 1965. Located at the corner of Fourth and Tryon Street, the photograph was taken on April 1, 1965. This building was once the Buford Hotel.
The last passenger train serving the Southern Railway Passenger Station in November of 1962. This image captures the area north of the railyard.
Once a house in the 300 block of Brevard Street, it later became an antique store run by Archie Moore.
The Charlotte Lions Club provided the funds for the outdoor theater at the park. Many band concerts have taken place there over the years.
The Charlotte Municipal Airport opened in 1936 under the authority of the city of Charlotte. During World War II, the United States Army Air Force took over management of the airport and established Morris Field Air Base in 1941. The airfield was used by the Third Air Force for antisubmarine patrols and training. After the war, a passenger terminal was added, and the airport was renamed the Douglas Municipal Airport in honor of Mayor Ben E. Douglas (1894–1981).
Freedom Park is located off of East Boulevard in Myers Park. It opened in 1948 and was named in honor of Charlotte’s World War II soldiers.
Located on the 200 block of South Tryon Street, the C.W. Johnston Building was completed in 1924. It was Charlotte’s largest office building, with 149,000 square feet and 17 stories.
The Mecklenburg County Court House is located at 700 East Trade Street. It is now the offices of the Mecklenburg County District Attorney.
The Golden Eagle Motel was located at 601 North Tryon Street, at the corner of Tryon and 9th Streets. The back of the card contains the following information: “150 attractively decorated rooms and suites, each with T.V., room-controlled air-conditioning and heat, direct dial phones, wall-to-wall carpeting and tile baths. Restaurant and swimming pool. Comfortable rooms…reasonable prices…friendly atmosphere.”
Charlotte Memorial Hospital is now known as Carolinas Medical Center. It is located on Blythe Boulevard off of Kings Drive.
