Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. The town was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had become Queen of Great Britain just seven years before it was incorporated. Charlotte was settled around 1755 by people of European descent. Local leaders signed the Mecklenburg Resolves or Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in 1775. Although it was not a valid declaration of independence, it was among the first of its kind, eventually leading to the American Revolution. Throughout the 19th Century, numerous Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic churches were formed in the city, giving it the nickname “The City of Churches.”
Charlotte experienced its first boom after the Civil War as a cotton processing center and railroad hub. When the U.S. government established Camp Greene north of present-day Wilkinson Boulevard during World War I, the population grew. After the war, many soldiers and suppliers stayed and the city and established their homes and businesses here. Today Charlotte is a beautiful city with expansive green spaces, a thriving culture, and a friendly population.
Below are some stunning historical photochrom postcards of Charlotte from the early 20th Century.
#1 YMCA Building (Second One), 1915
#2 Independence Square, 1900
#3 Fourth Courthouse & Law Building, 1910
#4 Presbyterian Hospital, 1909
#5 Presbyterian Hospital, 1950
#6 Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1966

Covenant Presbyterian Church was formed in June 1947 with the merger of two churches, Second Presbyterian (organized 1873) and Westminster Presbyterian Church (organized 1897). Covenant is considered to be one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States.
Leave a Reply
#7 Mecklenburg Hotel, 1923
#8 Selwyn Hotel, 1910
#9 Clayton Hotel, 1920
#10 Southern Manufacturer’s Club and Mrs. Stonewall Jackson House, 1900
#11 Anna Morrison Jackson’s Second House, 1905
#12 Couple driving through Myers Park, 1918
#13 Fifth Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 1928
#14 Colonial Apartments, 1925
#15 Fourth Courthouse and Lawyers Building, 1908
#16 Central High School, 1925
#17 William Phifer House, 1880
#18 Blandwood Apartments, 1925
#19 St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1910
#20 William Phifer House, 1908
#21 University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1972
#22 Mecklenburg Hotel, 1940
#23 Aerial view of Charlotte, 1912
#24 Charlotte skyline, 1918
#25 Southern Manufacturer’s Club, 1908

The Southern Manufacturer's Club was a private men's club located on 300 West Trade Street. It was home to some of the most prominent business leaders and writers in Charlotte during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The lavish facility first opened in 1894.
Leave a Reply
#26 Ovens Auditorium, 1966
#27 Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1966

Covenant Presbyterian Church was formed in June 1947 with the merger of two churches, Second Presbyterian (organized 1873) and Westminster Presbyterian Church (organized 1897). Covenant is considered to be one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States.
Leave a Reply
#28 Freedom Park, 1961
#29 South Park Mall, 1971
#30 Ovens Auditorium, 1961
#31 Aerial view of uptown Charlotte, 1950
#32 Aerial view of Charlotte, 1983
#33 Charlotte Bus Station on Trade Street, 1950
#34 Red Fez Club, 1933
#35 Charlotte City Hall, 1927
#36 Charlotte City Hall, 1927
#37 Charlotte City Hall, 1927
#38 The Mecklenburg County Courthouse and the Lawyers Building, 1911
#39 Fifth Mecklenburg County Courthouse
#40 Carnegie Library of Charlotte, 1908
#41 Selwyn Hotel, 1920
#42 Charlotte Sanatorium, 1908
#43 Mercy Hospital, 1925

Mercy Hospital was founded by the sisters of Mercy of Belmont, North Carolina in February 1906. Originally it was a twenty-five-bed facility in a wooden building on East First Street behind St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. The second facility, pictured here, opened in 1916 on East Fifth Street. Additions increased and by 1960, the hospital had a capacity of 300 beds
Leave a Reply
#44 Presbyterian Hospital, 1985
#45 Mercy Hospital, 1908

Mercy Hospital was founded by the sisters of Mercy of Belmont, North Carolina in February 1906. Originally it was a twenty-five-bed facility in a wooden building on East First Street behind St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. The second facility, pictured here, opened in 1916 on East Fifth Street. Additions increased and by 1960, the hospital had a capacity of 300 beds.
Leave a Reply
#46 Charlotte Memorial Hospital, 1940
#47 Charlotte Memorial Hospital, 1960
#48 Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, 1906

Mercy Hospital was founded by the sisters of Mercy of Belmont, North Carolina in February 1906. Originally it was a twenty-five-bed facility in a wooden building on East First Street behind St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. The second facility, pictured here, opened in 1916 on East Fifth Street. Additions increased and by 1960, the hospital had a capacity of 300 beds.
Leave a Reply
#49 Camp Greene Stables on Remount Road, 1918
#50 South Tryon Street, 1915
#51 Uptown Charlotte, 1900
#52 Aerial view Tryon Street, 1905
#53 YMCA Building (Second One) and Annex, 1920
#54 Charlotte Business District, 1910
#55 Camp Greene mess line, 1918
#56 United States Post Office, 1900
#57 First Baptist Church, 1948

Once the home of First Baptist Church, this site is located in the 300 block of North Tryon Street. The church can trace its history to 1832. This facility was built in 1908 and served the congregation until the 1970s when they moved to a new church. The older facility was transformed into a cultural center for arts education and is known as Spirit Square.
Leave a Reply
#58 Dilworth United Methodist Church, 1926
#59 Central High School, 1920
#60 Independence Square, 1920
#61 The 100 block of North Tryon Street at night, 1925
#62 A view of Tryon Street with its new skyscraper, 1914
#63 University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1965
#64 Elizabeth College, 1908
#65 Charlotte Country Club, 1945
#66 Lake Norman, 1970
#67 House in Myers Park, 1920
#68 Looking south down Tryon Street, 1955
#69 Hoskins Mill Village, 1913
#70 Elizabeth School and Knox Presbyterian Church, 1920
#71 Aerial view of Charlotte’s business section, 1910
#72 Aerial view of Charlotte, 1917
#73 Charlotte’s business section, 1929
#74 Looking westward from the Realty Building, Charlotte, 1910
#75 Masonic Temple Proposed, 1920
#76 Charlotte Auditorium, 1890
#77 Southern Manufacturers’ Club and Mrs. Stonewall Jackson’s Residence, 1900
#78 Charlotte Coliseum, 1960
#79 Charlotte Business District, 1910
#80 Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Company, 1900
#81 O’Donoghue Hall (Catholic School), 1907
#82 Charlotte City Hall, 1927
#83 Charlotte City Hall (1927).1926
#84 Tryon Street in Charlotte at the turn of the century, 1903
#85 Charlotte Country Club, 1938
#86 Charlotte Country Club, 1920
#87 Charlotte Country Club, 1910

Charlotte Country Club began as The Mecklenburg Club in 1910. This first Club was located west of the city adjoining a pond on or near Stewart Creek. The activities of this early Club were confined to card games, picnics, boating, and fishing. The club moved to its present location in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood in 1931.
Leave a Reply
#88 Lake at Charlotte Country Club, 1917

Charlotte Country Club began as The Mecklenburg Club in 1910. This first Club was located west of the city adjoining a pond on or near Stewart Creek. The activities of this early Club were confined to card games, picnics, boating, and fishing. The name was changed to Charlotte Country Club in 1917. The club moved to its present location in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood in 1931.
Leave a Reply
#89 Charlotte Country Club, 1917

Charlotte Country Club began as The Mecklenburg Club in 1910. This first Club was located west of the city adjoining a pond on or near Stewart Creek. The activities of this early Club were confined to card games, picnics, boating, and fishing. The name was changed to Charlotte Country Club in 1917. The club moved to its present location in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood in 1931.
Leave a Reply
#90 Charlotte Country Club, 1917

Charlotte Country Club began as The Mecklenburg Club in 1910. This first Club was located west of the city adjoining a pond on or near Stewart Creek. The activities of this early Club were confined to card games, picnics, boating, and fishing. The name was changed to Charlotte Country Club in 1917. The club moved to its present location in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood in 1931.
Leave a Reply
#91 South Tryon Street looking north from the Mecklenburg Courthouse, 1910
#92 Dilworth Road Looking north. The Addison Apartments are in view. 1914
#93 East Trade Street with a view of a trolley and a horse and buggy, 1900
#94 Two skyscrapers along Tryon Street in Charlotte, 1910
#95 Independence Square looking south on Tryon Street, 1920
#96 Fifth Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 1928
#97 United States Federal Courthouse and Post Office, 1928

The Charles R. Jonas Federal Building is an 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 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 lease the building to the federal government for continued use.
Leave a Reply
#98 United States Post Office and Courthouse, 1931

This the way the courthouse and post office appeared when it was first constructed in 1915. Today Charles R. Jonas Federal Building is an historic two-story, limestone structure in the neo-classical design. It is located at 401 West Trade Street, in Charlotte with an addition that was built in 1934. At various times it has served as a courthouse of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, and 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.
Leave a Reply
#99 Fourth Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 1910
#100 Fourth Mecklenburg Court House and Lawyers Building, 1920
#101 Fourth Mecklenburg County Courthouse, 1910
#102 Mercy Hospital.
#103 Mercy Hospital in the Elizabeth Neighborhood, 1940
#104 Mercy Hospital, 1955

Mercy Hospital was founded by the sisters of Mercy of Belmont, North Carolina in February 1906. Originally it was a twenty-five-bed facility in a wooden building on East First Street behind St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church. The second facility, pictured here, opened in 1916 on East Fifth Street. Additions increased and by 1960, the hospital had a capacity of 300 beds