This report was written on July 6, 1976

1. Name and location of the property: The property known as the Providence Presbyterian Church is located on Providence Rd. in the southeastern portion of Mecklenburg County.

2. Name, location, and telephone numbers of the present owners and occupants of the property:
The present owner of the property is:

Providence Presbyterian Church
10140 Providence Rd.
Matthews, NC 28105

Telephone: (704) 847-9585

3. Representative photographs of the property: Representative photographs of the property are included in this report.

4. A map depicting the location of the property: This report contains two maps. Map A shows the 3.99 acres which the Church owns on the western side of Providence Rd. Map B shows the 7.28 acres which the Church owns on the eastern side of Providence Rd.

5. Current Deed Book Reference to the Property: The most recent reference to both parcels is found in Mecklenburg County Deed Book 2665 at page 5.

6. A brief historical sketch of the property:

Providence Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest Christian congregations in Mecklenburg County. Indeed, Alexander Craighead, the noted minister of Colonial Mecklenburg, regarded it as “one of his houses.” The first meetinghouse was a simple log structure which was erected in 1767 and stood to the east of the cemetery overlooking a rock spring. William Richardson, pastor of the Waxhaws Presbyterian Church and son-in-law of Alexander Craighead, preached the first sermon in the edifice as the initial minister at Providence. Members of the congregation played an important part in local affairs during the turbulent years of the American Revolution. Three signers of what according to some was the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence are buried in the Providence Cemetery: Neill Morrison, John Flennekin, and Henry Downs. General Cornwallis’ Army moved through the area on its march toward Charlotte in September 1780. In 1804, a new and larger building was erected to the east of Providence Rd. and in front of the cemetery. The first old log structure now became a schoolroom, the Providence Congregation. Also worth noting in this regard is the fact that two of its early ministers, Dr. Robert Hall Morrison and Dr. Samuel Williamson, later became the first two presidents of Davidson College.

The present sanctuary dates from 1858. The refinement of the structure, especially of the interior, confirms that these were prosperous times. The farmers of the Providence Community were enjoying the benefits of the cotton economy of the Old South. Of course, their way of life was to end with the defeat of the Confederacy. But the church remains as a symbol of the affluence of that era. It continues to serve as the place of worship for the congregation.

7. A brief architectural description of the property: This report contains an architectural description by Jack O. Boyte, A.I.A.

8. Documentation of why and in what ways the property meets the criteria set forth in N.C.G.S. 160A-399.4:

a. Historical and cultural significance: The historical and cultural significance of the property known as the Providence Presbyterian Church rests upon two factors. First, it has strong associative ties with one of the oldest Presbyterian congregations in the county. Second, it has architectural significance as one of the oldest and most refined frame churches in the county.

b. Suitability for preservation and restoration: Providence Presbyterian Church retains much of its original integrity and therefore is suitable for preservation and restoration.

c. Educational value: Providence Presbyterian Church has educational value as one of the oldest frame churches in Mecklenburg County. Moreover, its members have played a significant role in local history since the coming of permanent white settlers to this region.

d. Cost of acquisition, restoration, maintenance or repair: The Commission has no intention of purchasing this property nor is it aware of any intention of the owners to sell. The Commission asserts that all costs associated with renovating and maintaining the property will be paid by the owner or subsequent owners of the property.

e. Possibilities for adaptive or alternative use of the property: The Commission concurs with the present owners’ intention to maintain the property as a viable church. The structure and grounds, however, could be adapted to a wide variety of uses.

f. Appraised value: The current tax appraisal value of the improvements on the property is $108.990. The current tax appraisal value of the land is $55,580. The Commission is aware that designation of the property would allow the owner to apply for a special tax classification.

g. The administrative and financial responsibility of and any person or organization willing to underwrite all or a portion of such costs: As indicated earlier, the Commission has no intention of purchasing this property. Furthermore, the Commission assumes that all costs associated with the property will be met by whatever part, now owns or will subsequently owns the property. Clearly, the present owners have dominated the capacity to meet the expenses associated with maintaining the property.

9. Documentation of why and in what ways the property meets the criteria established for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places: The Commission judges that the property known as the Providence Presbyterian Church does meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. Basic to the Commission’s judgment is the knowledge of the fact that the National Register of Historic Places functions to identity properties of local and state historic significance. The Commission believes that the property known as the Providence Presbyterian Church is of local and regional historic significance and thereby meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places.

10. Documentation of why and in what ways the property is of significance to Charlotte and/or Mecklenburg County: As noted earlier, the property known as the Providence Presbyterian Church is of local historic importance for two reasons. First, it has strong associative ties with one of the oldest Presbyterian congregation in Mecklenburg County. Second, the structure itself is one of the oldest and most refined frame churches in Mecklenburg County.

Bibliography

An Inventory of Older Buildings in Mecklenburg County and Charlotte for the Historic Properties Commission.

Providence Presbyterian Church 1767-1967 (a pamphlet distributed by Providence Presbyterian Church).

Records of the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds Office.

Records of the Mecklenburg County Tax Office.

Date of Preparation of this report: July 6, 1976

Prepared by: Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Director
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Properties Commission
139 Middleton Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28207

Telephone: (703) 332-2726

The building is a simple rectangle with high side walls and plain gabled ends. In the gabled north end, the centered entrance consists of eight foot high double doors with a six light transom window above. Over this are three tall windows, one wide and two narrow. Flanking the entrance are towering three sash windows. Rising from chair rail height, these windows reach some twenty five feet above the church floor, and contain a total of twenty seven lights. At each side four similar windows occur and at the south gabled end, two units flank the interior preaching platform. Unexpectedly, one may see original louvered blinds at all windows. These green-painted three section blinds have been remarkably preserved with careful painting and repair and still hang on original wrought iron hardware. The structure rests on low foundation walls of cut Mecklenburg granite. Exterior walls are white painted square edged narrow-lapped siding. Starting at the foundation with no molding band, these walls rise about thirty feet to a narrow bed mold under a wide overhang.

Typical of meeting house design, this cornice configuration includes a which wide overhang, which is the dominant exterior feature. Projecting out some two feet from the wall, the overhang fascia is a narrow board with a wide shingle mold and no gutter. At the gabled ends, this wide overhang continues up the rake with similar molding trim. The roof has two uninterrupted surfaces rising steeply to a high ridge line. Upon entering the narthex through the original entrance doors, one encounters a small room which has seen several alterations. Originally two doors led to side aisles in the nave. These were removed in modern times and a center double door installed. Originally the entrance to the gallery seating was through an exterior door at the right side front and up steep stairs. This door was removed in recent years and a new door installed from the narthex to altered, shallow rise stairs. One other change in the interior front was the enlargement of the small left side room to provide an interior session room. Fortunately, the nave, chancel, and gallery construction have remained unaltered, and they show the fine craftsmanship of these original features today. Upon entering the nave, one encounters a remarkably preserved room.

Little change has occurred in this sanctuary since its original construction. Throughout this rectangular room are hand-planed pews facing a raised pulpit platform at one end. With carefully shaped seats and backs these pews show clearly the skill of the early craftsmen. The pew end panels show rare decorative treatment in this severely simple building. The panel tops are gracefully shaped curved rails and in the lower panels are elaborate scroll inserts. The wide-center section of pews is divided by a solid rail running front to rear. Traditionally this is the dividing line between seating for men and women. Along the full length at each side, narrow galleries are supported by widely spaced tapered wood columns. The original wide plank flooring remains, now covered with carpeting. Walls are horizontal tongue and grooved boards. A fine molded chair rail occurs at window sill height on all walls and below this are recessed panels with molded edges.

The high ceiling has a pattern of wide hand planed boards running the length of the room between raised battens with molded edges. There is no crown mold. At the face of the balcony framing there are also molded recessed panels of wide hand planed boards. Above this are round wood rails connecting square posts which are capped with ornamental wooden balls. In the roof framing are remarkable examples of the skill of the early carpenters. Huge rafters, joists and braces are joined in tightly fitted mortise and tenoned joints to form widely spaced roof trusses. These members show typical parallel saw marks of water powered mills, and all joints are secured with the nails and pegs. Purlins of heavy hand hewn pine spans the space between these trusses and support the ceiling and the original shingling strips. In the garret, many of the original hand split shingles remain where they fell when new roofing was installed. Examples of the early manufactured nails remain in the shingling strips and shingles. The character of this sanctuary reflects the simplicity of meeting house architecture. Elaboration is deliberately avoided and molded trim kept to a minimum. In its simplicity the builders created a strikingly handsome building and one which illustrates the severity of life in early Mecklenburg. The Providence Congregation has, through the years, carefully preserved this remarkable building. It is a rare treat to find a church which has been in constant use for over 125 years so little changed. This meeting house is an architectural treasure.

The Robert Potts, Jr. House

This report was written on Mar 2, 1976

1. Name and location of the property: The property known as the Robert Potts, Jr. House is looted on the Smith Road one-half mile east of Cornelius, North Carolina in northern Mecklenburg County.

2. Name, addresses, and telephone numbers of the present owners and occupants of the property: The present owners of the property are:

Mrs. L. Rodney Whisnant (Miriam Smith Whisnant)
P. O. Box 156
Cornelius, North Carolina 28031

Telephone: (704) 892-8251

Mrs. Charles C. Hunter (Lilyan Smith Hunter)
P. O. Box 176
Cornelius, North Carolina 28031

Telephone: (704) 892-8698

3. Representative photographs of the property: Representative photographs of the property are included in this report.

4. A map depicting the location of the property: This report contains A Guide to Historic Sites and Buildings taken from The Plantation World Around Davidson by Dr. Chalmers G. Davidson showing location of the Robert Potts House. The report also contains a Tax Office map which indicates the location of the house.

5. Current Deed Book Reference of the property: This report contains a complete chain of title for the property. Special notice must be given to the fact that this property has been owned by the Potts family, and their descendants from purchase of the Land Grant on September 4, 1753, until the present time. The Parcel Number of the property is 00708103.

6. A brief historical sketch of the property: This report contains an historical sketch prepared by Dr. Chalmers G. Davidson.

7. A brief architectural description of the property: This report contains an architectural description prepared by Jack O. Boyte, A. I. A.

8. Documentation of why and in what ways the property meets the criteria set forth in N. C. G. S. 160A-399.4:

a. Historical and cultural significance: The historical and cultural significance of the Robert Potts, Jr. House and property rests upon two factors. First, members of the Potts family have contributed greatly to the historical development of Mecklenburg County. Second, the house and the surrounding outbuildings and facilities are of substantial local architectural significance and form one of the richest sources of historical artifacts in Mecklenburg County.

b. Suitability for preservation and restoration: The house contains many of the original furnishings. Moreover, while having been modified to meet the demands of a contemporary lifestyle, the house retains many of its initial architectural features. The house should therefore be maintained in its present state of preservation. Some of the outbuildings are in need of repair.

c. Educational value: The structure has been featured in several books dealing with historic houses in Mecklenburg County. This fact attests to the educational value of the property. The educational value of the house rests upon its historical and cultural significance to Mecklenburg County.

d. Cost of acquisition, restoration, maintenance, or repair: The Commission has no intention of purchasing the property. Indeed, the Commission knows of no inclination of the present owners to sell. The house is in an excellent state of repair. Some of the outbuildings are in need of attention. However, the Commission assumes that the owner of the property will pay all expenses associated with the preservation, maintenance, and restoration of the property.

e. Possibilities for adaptive or alternative uses of the property: As noted above, the Commission believes that the house and property should not be adapted to an alternative use. However, if the owners should wish to sell the property at some future date, the house and property could serve as an farm museum.

f. Appraised value: The 1975 appraised value of the house itself is $7250.00. The appraised value of the land is $64670.00. The Commission is aware that designation of the property would allow the owner to apply for a special property tax classification.

g. The administrative and financial responsibility of any person or organization willing to underwrite all or a portion of such costs: As indicated earlier, the Commission has no intention of purchasing this property. Furthermore, the Commission assumes that all costs associated with the structure and property will be met by whatever party now owns or will own the property.

9. Documentation of why and in what ways the property meets the criteria established for inclusion on the National Register: The Commission recognizes that the National Register of Historic Places was established to single out and to provide protection for properties of local and State historic significance. The evidence generated by this report and the data provided by the comprehensive inventory of the pre-1900 built environment performed by the Commission convince the Commission that the Robert Potts, Jr. House does meet the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. Clearly, the Robert Potts, Jr. house is of local historic significance because of the accomplishments of the Potts family and because of the architectural merit of the structure.

10. Documentation of why and in what ways the property is of historical importance to Charlotte and/or Mecklenburg County: The Commission believes that the Robert Potts, Jr. House is significant to the history of Mecklenburg County because of its architectural merit and because of the historical accomplishments of the Potts family. Detailed documentation in support of both contentions is contained in the historical sketch prepared by Dr. Chalmers G. Davidson and in the architectural description prepared by Mr. Jack O. Boyte, A.I.A.

CHAIN OF TITLE

1. Original Land Grant dated the 11th of April, 1752 George II conveyed to John Brevard 636 Acres in Anson County on the headwaters of Rocky River. N.C. Land Grant XI, 4-5 Original document in possession of present owners.

2. John Brevard to John Potts dated the 4th day of September, 1753 by lease and release 636 Acres in Anson County. Book C-1, Page 226

3. John Potts conveyed to son, Robert Potts, Sr. on January 16, 1770 636 Acres in Mecklenburg County, N.C. Register of Deeds Book 7, Page 255.

4. Robert Potts, Sr. conveyed to son, Robert Potts. Jr. On July 24, 1811 a tract of 96 Acres called a “deed of gift”. Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds Book 20, Page 130.

5. Robert Potts. Jr. conveyed to son, Thomas Espy Potts January 20, 1848 by Will Clerk of Superior Court Will Book J Pages 76,77.

6. Thomas Espy Potts Heirs conveyed to son, William Robert Potts on October 20, 1898. Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds Book 127, Page 452.

7. William Robert Potts conveyed to Nephew, Clifton Eugene Smith on December 11, 1946 by Will Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court Will Book 5, Page 327.

8. Clifton Eugene Smith conveyed to Daughters, Miriam Smith Whisnant and Lilyan Reid Smith Hunter by Will dated August 15, 1969 Mecklenburg County Clerk of Superior Court Roll 69-47, Frame 648.

Dr. Chalmers G. Davidson

On September 4, 1753, John Potts, planter, received by “lease and release” from John Brevard for the sum of 40 pounds sterling, a grant containing 636 acres of land in Anson County and duly recorded in Book C-1, Page 226, “lying and being on the headwaters of Rocky River, adjoining Robert Brevard and others.” — This being the tract granted to John Brevard by George II dated April 11, 1752, and recorded in North Carolina Land Grants XI, Pages 4,5, and 18. Early records indicate that John Potts was one of the earliest pioneers in this area having come here in the migration with the Scotch Irish through Virginia into North Carolina and lived on the tract of land before obtaining and recording his land grant. John Potts was a member of the Potts families who had long been residents of the colonies in Maryland and later Chester County, Pa., in the 1720’s and 1730’s. He was a relative of Isaac Potts of Valley Forge, Pa. (whose home Gen. Washington used as headquarters) and of John Potts of Potts Grove near Pottstown, Pa.

John Potts and his wife, Geals, were also owners of land granted in the Fourth Creek settlement of Rowan County by the Honorable John Earl Granville for 580 acres dated January 3, 1761, and recorded in Vol. IV Part II, Pages 900, 901. A map identifying the land holdings of the Fourth Creek settlers is found in Rowan County records and has been published in Carolina Cradle by Robert Ramsey. There is, however, no evidence that John Potts ever resided on this grant of land. He and his wife, Geals, deeded this tract to their son, William, by Deed dated April 18, 1764, Recorded Book 6, Pages 74-76, in Rowan County.

The 636 acre Grant in Anson County (by this time known as Mecklenburg County) was given by “Deed of Gift” and Will from John Potts to his “beloved son, Robert” on January 16, 1770. Robert Potts married Elizabeth McKeown and were parents of nine children. He was cited on three occasions for his “Patriotic Aid” during the Revolutionary War and owned 10 slaves recorded in the 1790 Census. In his Will filed in 1822 Robert Potts divided the 636 acre tract among his surviving sons, John, James, Robert, Jr., Jonathan, and Edwin, along with the “200 more or less acres making up the homeplace which I now live on,” to his widow, Elizabeth.

Robert Potts, Sr., deeded two tracts of land from the original grant to Robert Potts, Jr. One tract for 96 acres obtained July 24, 1811, and one for 121 acres in 1815. On Aught 22, 1811, Robert Potts, Jr., married Nancy Eveline Alexander Gillespie and built for her the home known today as the Robert Potts, Jr. home. Early letters among his personal papers list him residing at “Hickory Grove” – whether this was the name of the home or the area in which he lived has not been determined. The first entry in his Bible states “Commenced housekeeping, January 1812.” The materials for the house were all obtained on the plantation – logs, clapboards, and stone for the foundations and chimneys. The “log pit” used to shape the huge hand-hewn logs and the quarry site are viewable on the property today. The furniture, most of it fashioned from walnut, maple, pine, and apple wood, was cut on the plantation and made for Robert Potts, Jr. A great number of the original have been restored and remain in the home. Robert Potts, Jr., was a thrifty man and through the years became very successful as a planter. He succeeded in acquiring much of the original land grant for himself by purchasing three of his brothers’ holdings and inherited the remaining tract from his mother in 1833. Robert, Jr., and Nancy had 10 children. He served as a founder and Ruling Elder of Bethel Church, which he helped to grow, giving of his time and money. He continued to contribute generously throughout his life. Perhaps his most notable contribution to the area was his interest in education – prompting him to give time and money in helping to establish Davidson College along with his “Good Friend”, William L. Davidson, whose plantation adjoined his. He was appointed a member of the First Board of Trustees of Davidson College and one of his sons, Charles Stanhope Potts, entered the first class session. Other sons, Zebulon and Thomas Espy, were also educated at Davidson. Records show that a daughter, Nancy Eveline, was college educated, but the exact institution attended was not named.

Robert Potts, Jr., willed the homeplace tract to his youngest son, Thomas Espy Potts and appointed his “good friend”, David A. Caldwell to a guardianship of his son. Money was stipulated for his education at Davidson College in the will. Thomas Espy Potts was forced to buy a great deal of the plantation and home accouterments in 1860 at a public sale when Robert Potts, Jr.’s second wife disagreed with the will and settlement of the estate. Thomas Espy Potts married Rebecca Catherine White of the Centre Church community on August 3, 1852, and they had seven children. He served during the Civil War in the cavalry under Gen. J. E. B. Stuart and letters recording his experiences are included among the generations of Potts papers. Thomas Espy and Becky Potts entertained many of the Methodist Circuit Riders who held meetings at early Zion Church – as their home was “quite close by and hospitable” as one minister wrote them.

Through will and division deeds Thomas Espy Potts passed the Potts House and land to his youngest son, William Robert Potts. Tracts of land were also deeded to another son, Thomas Pritchard Potts and daughter, Llllie Rebecca Potts Smith. William Robert Potts married Katherine Wilson of Caldwell Station – a granddaughter of Andrew Springs. They had no children, but left a large sum of money to both Barium Springs Orphanage and Childrens Home of Winston-Salem.

By will, William Robert Potts left the Potts House and land in 1946 to his nephew, Clifton Eugene Smith, the son of his sister, Lillie Potts Smith. Enough information can never be written of the “love relationship” that emerged between the Potts House and Cliff Smith. He and his wife, Mary Reid, a former teacher, lived on the Lillie Potts Smith tract of land and with his inheritance from “Uncle W. R.,” blended together again the large tract of Potts Plantation. In 1946 Clifton and Mary Smith restored the Potts House to be lived in once again by another generation of Potts descendants. Lumber was again cut from Potts land for new clapboards and two newly-constructed east and west wings. The restoration was done in very painstaking steps – Cliff Smith was a perfectionist – seeing that every nail, latch, door, and window was left as it was in the original 1811 construction. He supervised long hours of research – this was in 1946, when this kind of activity was not the popular “in thing” to do. When all was completed the blend of old family home and history with livable 20th century accommodations was finalized. Clifton and Mary Smith were parents of two daughters, Miriam Smith and Lilyan Reid Smith. As parents they continued the traditional Potts Presbyterian heritage by sending their daughters to Queens College.

On August 15, 1969, Clifton Eugene Smith passed the Potts House (1811) and the original plantation land to the seventh generation of appreciative Potts descendants, Miriam Smith Whisnant and Lilyan Reid Smith Hunter. It is our belief that nowhere in Mecklenburg County does there remain such a lovely tribute to perseverance, loyalty, and love of country as displayed by the generations of the Potts Family of North Mecklenburg. Robert Potts, Jr.’s House, furnishings, papers, and original plantation all still intact — always family owned and occupied – never abandoned or “Gone with the Wind.”

This house is a log structure, modified from time to time by Potts descendants, while retaining most of its original characteristics. The massive hewn log outer walls stand today as they were first built. The exterior surfaces were likely exposed when first erected. However at a later unknown date they were covered with clap board siding, and in recent years modern siding has been applied. The fine interior wood trim and wall finish are essentially original.

Simple dwellings of logs, notched together at the corners were introduced to America around 1638 by Swedish settlers in Delaware Subsequently, German and Scotch-Irish immigrants adopted this form of construction. During the southerly expansion of the 1700’s, the log cabin was widely used in this timber-rich frontier, since it could be built with only the aid of an axe and requires few costly nails. First log cabins were seldom intended as permanent homes. When families wanted better houses with more amenities, they either abandoned their cabins, incorporated them into larger cabins, or used them as slave quarters.

On the Potts Plantation the second dwelling was again of log construction, much larger and finished with more sophistication than the first. It is likely that the original cabin was used for slave quarters after the second dwelling was completed. Surprisingly, the foundation remains of the first cabin are intact near an original, undisturbed, plantation slave cemetery.

The second house is a simple rectangular two story structure, resting on a low field stone foundation, with two rooms on each floor. Exterior single shouldered brick chimneys rise at each gabled end, providing fireplaces in all rooms, a plan which reflects the influence of eighteenth century Virginia tidewater. One story wings now flank the original structure, having been added by a growing family for more living space. These wings are of recent vintage, however, and have no historic significance.

The front entrance is sheltered by an original shed-roofed porch extending across the full width of the house and supported by unusual square brick columns, covered initially, with smooth stucco. This porch is enclosed with a rounded wooden rail and delicate square balusters, said to have been carefully copied from the original work. The front first floor facade has a center door flanked by double hung, six over six light windows on each side.

The front door leads into a low-ceilinged parlor featuring a large fireplace with a carefully crafted federal mantel, bordered by high narrow plain wooden pilasters, molded cornices and an integral molded narrow mantel shelf. The original brick fireplace surround and hearth are intact, though presently faced with marble. Walls are covered with smooth, hand planed boards, applied horizontally to furring strips on the exterior log walls, and standing vertically in the single interior partition. A molded chair rail is applied to all walls, below which painted panel edges create a highly decorative motif. A moderate crown mold joins the walls to the wide board ceiling. The interior partition consists of tongue and groove vertical boards, and separates the parlor from a smaller dining room to one side. This smaller room is finished witch matching wood trim, and includes a fireplace and mantel similar to those in the parlor. Floors throughout the house are original wide pine planks in the parlor, however, oak strip flooring was recently added. At the rear, a lean-to addition is connected to both rooms by original six panel doors. The rear dining room door provided access to the original kitchen located about twenty-five feet to the rear of the main house. Further study could well show that there was an original wing at the rear, balancing the front lean-to porch.

An open stair rises steeply in two runs to the second floor at rear of the parlor. A molded rail and small square pickets show skilled craftsmanship. A rare feature of the balustrade are unusual three baluster groups on the treads. The hand rail is reflected on the stair wall with a painted shape below which are painted panel edges. The stair rail terminates at large square newel posts with a molded caps at the first and second floors.

Original doors throughout the house are typically six paneled with mortised and tenoned stile and rail joints secured with wooden pegs and feature recessed flat panels on one side and fine bead and quirk molding on the other. They are curiously low, clearing at the head just over six feet. All original door hardware is intact. Iron rim box locks with brass knobs, occur on each door. Exterior door hinges are wrought iron straps with drive pintles. Interior doors and several small closets have hinges, with simple iron lift latches on the cabinet doors.

At the head of the stair a wide open landing is partially enclosed with some exposed original log construction. The logs are hewn to equal thickness and vary in height. Wide spaced cracks are luted with clay and stone and pointed with lime and sand mortar.

The two second floor bed chambers are connected by a low, paneled door in a single board partition. The second room is reached by passing through the larger which opens from the stair hall. Both rooms have smooth, hand finished, simply trimmed wooden walls and ceilings. In the large chamber two windows face the front, one of which is centered over the entrance door below. The other is balanced at the side by a single window facing the front in the smaller chamber, thus creating a balanced three window front facade on the second floor. Each room has a single side window placed to the front of the chimneys.

From the open stair hall there is a garret trap door in the ceiling reached by a steep ladder. In the garret the original joists span the entire front to rear dimension of the structure and are centered about three feet apart. On similar spacing hewn rafters, lapped and pegged at the ridge, support the roof. The original roof has been removed, though evidence of the original shingle strips can be noted in nail holes and staining on the rafters. The rafter ends have at some past time been raised and now rest on a continuous flat wooden plate sill, not original, laid across the top of the joists. The rafter ends are uniquely shaped and indicate the characteristic curved taper used in the early form of eave construction which projected past supporting walls below to create a simple water shed, prior to the adoption of the classic form of molded cornice. In these curved tapers the original wooden pegs used to secure the rafters to the top wall logs still project down from the raised ends.

Stored carefully in the garret are all of the original window sash which were replaced with manufactured sash in recent years. These original windows show the typical delicately formed muntin bars of the early nineteenth century and contain a large number of blown glass lights. In the garret are also stored many of the original simple battened window blinds which were also replaced in recent years with paneled blinds. These original blinds still have their wrought iron strap hinges. In the gable ends of the garret are small square four light windows on each side of the chimneys. Gable framing consists some original hand hewn studs, now supplemented with intermediate sawn studs. Originally this wall was faced pit sawn wide square edge boards.

A most remarkable characteristic of this plantation is the number of preserved structures from the original farm dependencies. To the rear of the house an original small log shed, of undetermined original use, remains in good condition. This small earth-floored building retains all of the original log walls, some of the original roof structure and the original battened door with strap hinges and drive pintles. Nearby, there is a rebuilt summer kitchen, located on the site of the original kitchen. The original location of the well shed, blacksmith shop and several other out buildings are known, and offer exciting possibilities for archeological investigation. But, by far the most promising of structures built by Robert Potts is a well-preserved barn located on a slight rise across the road, about a hundred yards from the main house. This building is constructed of massive hewn logs laid with tight fitting notched and chamfered corners, heavy pegged door and window frame openings and long hewn rafters and joists, pegged at the ridge and walls. Wide, pit sawn, board stall partitions divide the interior. These boards were sawn on the plantation and, surprisingly, the original pit is still on the place. The barn has been in constant use since the original construction in 1811, in itself an astonishing fact. The original structure measures some forty by sixty feet and includes a number of animal stalls, a large equipment and tack room, grain storage rooms, and a hay loft. In two of the animal stalls are huge, hollowed log feed troughs, likely original, measuring some twenty feet in length, and hewn from trees measuring over three feet in diameter. In the feed storage room, a grain bin, hollowed from a cypress log measuring five feet across, is an astonishing artifact. This bin was cut and installed in the barn before the structure was completed, since the size would preclude moving it into place later. Original wrought iron hardware is found here and there, throughout the building. In the barn yard is a large granite watering trough similar to those found in other early nineteenth century, North Mecklenburg plantations.

Scattered about on the four hundred acre plantation are probably a dozen or more old tenant houses. Some of these date to the earliest years and one could expect to find many important historic remains during a study of these sites.

The Potts place is a rare instance of descendants retaining original eighteenth century land grant acreage, and and preserving early buildings with faithful diligence. The preservation and restoration of this unique architectural heritage should be enthusiastically encourages and assisted at every opportunity.

Bibliography

An Inventory of Old Buildings in Mecklenburg County and Charlotte for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission.

Architectural Descrpition prepared by Jack O. Boyte, AIA.

Historical Overview and Chain of Title prepared by Dr. Chalmers G. Davidson.

Records of the Mecklenburg County Tax Office.

Date of Preparation of this Report : Mar. 2, 1976

Prepared by: Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Director
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

This report was written on September 1, 1983

1. Name and location of the property: The property known as the Poplar Apartment Condominiums is located at 301 W. Tenth Street, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

2. Name, address, and telephone number of the present owner and occupant of the property: (Please see attachments for the present owners and occupants of the property).

3. Representative photographs of the property: This report contains representative photographs of the property.

4. A map depicting the location of the property: This report contains a map which depicts the location of the property.

5. Current Deed Book Reference to the property: The most recent deeds to this property are listed in Mecklenburg County Deed Books (see attachments). The Tax Parcel Numbers of the property are: 078-037-16 through 54.

6. A brief historical sketch of the property: This report contains as brief historical sketch of the property prepared by Dr. William H. Huffman.

7. A brief architectural description of the property: This report contains an architectural description of the property prepared by Lisa A. Stamper.

8. Documentation of why and in what ways the property meets the criteria set forth in N.C.G.S. 160A-399.4:

a. Special significance in terms of its history, architecture, and/or cultural importance: The Commission judges that the property known as the Poplar Apartment Condominiums does possess special significance in terms of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The Commission bases its judgment on the following considerations: 1) the Poplar Apartments, completed in 1930 and designed by Lockwood, Greene and Company, represented a major breakthrough in the local apartment development business in terms of the elegance and lavishness of its architectural appointments; 2) the Poplar Apartments document the transformation of Fourth Ward into a fashionable multi-family residential district in the 1920s; 3) the building is the most elegant early 20th Century apartment building which survives in uptown Charlotte; and 4) the Poplar Apartments have more recently participated in the conversion of Fourth Ward into the residential showcase of uptown Charlotte.

b. Integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and/or association: The Commission contends that the attached architectural description by Lisa A. Stamper demonstrates that the Poplar Apartment Condominiums meet this criterion.

9. Ad Valorem Tax Appraisal: The Commission is aware that designation would allow the owner to apply for an automatic deferral of 50% of the Ad Valorem taxes on all or any portion of the property which becomes “historic property.” The current appraised value of the 1.149 acres of land is $543,200. The current appraised value of the building is $2,411,100. The total current appraised value is $2,954,300. The property is zoned UR2.

Date of Preparation of this Report: September 1, 1983

Prepared by: Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Director
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Properties Commission
218 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Telephone: (704) 376-9115

Dr. William H. Huffman

The Poplar Apartments, located at the corner of Tenth and Poplar Streets in Charlotte’s Fourth Ward, is still one of the most majestic and well-built multiple-unit buildings in the South. This landmark was a physical representation of the growth, confidence and affluence of Charlotte in the late 1920s. Coming as it did at the very end of the boom of the Twenties and beginning of the Great Depression, if it had been delayed even six months or a year, it is doubtful that this unique building would ever have been constructed at all. The bad economic times of the early Thirties still played a role in the Poplar’s early history, however.

The site where the Poplar now stands had been occupied by the residence of Professor George B. Hanna (1835-1906) and his wife, Nola Alexander Hanna (1857-1927). Hanna, a Massachusetts native, was an assayer at the Charlotte mint for nearly forty years, from 1868 to 1906, and president of the Charlotte YMCA for twenty-nine years.¹ Nola Hanna, who was the daughter of Dr. A. W. Alexander of Charlotte, lived in the house alone after her husband died until her own death in November, 1927.² In a deed handled by the Home Real Estate and Guaranty Company of Charlotte, the property was subsequently sold by Mrs. Hanna’s executor (her brother, Charles L. Alexander), to Willetts Construction Company of New York in July, 1928.

It was Willetts’ intention to build the five-story Poplar as “cooperative homes,” that is, similar to those in New York, it wanted to sell 99-year leases and issue stock in a cooperative apartment house. In January, 1929, three local businessmen set up the Poplar Apartments Corporation, headed by Hal L. McKee (1898-1979), a Charlotte realtor, to contract the building for Willetts. To design the structure, the firm of Lockwood, Greene and Company was engaged, which was a major architectural and engineering company with offices in Charlotte, as well as Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Montreal, and Paris. Among others, Lockwood, Greene also designed the Charlotte Supply Company building on Mint Street in Charlotte’s Third Ward. In the building permit taken out on January 25, 1929, the apartment house was estimated to cost $250,000, which was a considerable sum for a residential building not in the very center of town, even though within walking distance.

By that fateful month of October, 1929, work on the building had progressed to the point where Willetts contracted with Home Real Estate and Guaranty to manage and handle leases for the apartments. It was signed on the 24th, the day of a massive sell-off of stocks in New York, and five days before “Black Tuesday,” when the bottom fell out of the stock market. Nonetheless, construction of the apartments continued, and in December, 1929, Willetts borrowed $125,000 from the Independence Trust Company in Charlotte to help finance the project, and by March, 1930, the Poplar was completed and ready for occupancy. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 20-22, 1930, a truly exciting event took place in Charlotte on the occasion of the Poplar’s formal opening. Home Real Estate and Guaranty took out three full-page ads in the Charlotte Observer inviting the citizens of the city to visit “Charlotte’s newest and most elaborate project”:

“The Poplar Apartments represent an investment of a half-million dollars and are the latest things in ultramodern large apartment. Above 23,000 visitors saw our model home. Attendance at exhibition of model apartment expected to be as large….. The comfort, convenience and high quality of these magnificent apartments is rapidly filling the 39-family structure with select and highly pleased tenants. Representatives and hostesses will be in attendance to escort visitors from top to bottom of the building, explaining its fine features and the excellent material that went into its make-up.” The showplace of the grand opening was indeed the model apartment, which had been furnished by the W. T. McCoy Company of Charlotte, one of the finest in the area, and the Smith-Wadsworth Hardware Company (which provided bric-a-brac), all done in the best of taste for comfortable middle-class living of the time. It also featured a shiny new majestic four-legged radio, and “even the refrigerator has been stocked by E. W. Berryhill, neighborhood grocer.”³

The Poplar Apartments were truly unique in a number of ways, making them unusual not only in Charlotte, but among those in the South. Not only was the building fireproof and soundproof, every apartment had cross-ventilation (there were no inside rooms) and an unobstructed view. The thirty-nine unit building ranged from a three-to a seven-room apartment, with corresponding rents from $70 to $150 per month, and each apartment was equipped with a working open fireplace in the living room. All also had a completely equipped modern kitchen of the day with electric refrigerator, tiled baths (the larger apartments had two baths) and the latest steam heat and incinerator. Included as well was a garage basement for the residents’ motor cars.¹⁴ In sum, the Poplar was clearly one of the best, if not the best, multi-family dwelling to be erected in Charlotte and the entire region. It was a splendid anchor for Charlotte’s residential Fourth Ward.

Unfortunately for the owner, Willetts Construction, the economic climate worsened rapidly after the stock market crash, and just over four months after the grand opening, Willetts defaulted on their note to Independence Trust, and the Poplar was sold to S. T. Henderson of Charlotte for $165,000 in August, 1930.¹⁵ Stephen Thomas Henderson (1896-1940) was quite familiar with the elegant apartment building, because he was president of Home Real Estate and Guaranty at the time of its construction and opening. After his successful bid, Henderson assigned ownership to another of his companies, Henderson, Whitener and Company, which had been formed in 1928 with Henderson, his brother-in-law, J. H. Whitner, and H. L. McKee and John D. Shawl. Two months later, Henderson, Whitner sold the Poplar to Home Real Estate and Guaranty, which then made the original agent and manager also the owner.

When Home Real Estate borrowed money in October, 1930, they also eventually fell victim to the effects of the Depression, although they lasted through five of the worst years. Poplar Apartments, Inc., a company formed in August, 1935, by W. Latimer Brown, his wife Ruth Harding Brown, and H. B. Lockwood, bought the building through a foreclosure sale for $32,000, plus the assumption of a $135,000 deed of trust in September, 1935.²¹ For fifteen years, Poplar Apartments, Inc. successfully guided the dwelling through the remainder of the Depression and the following wartime years. In 1950, the corporation was taken over by a new set of stockholders, headed by Edwin L. Jones, Sr., and included his wife, Anabel L. Jones, their son, Edwin L. Jones, Jr., a daughter, Louise Jones Brown, and son-in-law, W. Franklin Brown, and the name was changed to Jones Realty Co., Inc. (later Jones-Brown Realty Co., Inc.).²²

After nearly thirty years of ownership of the Fourth Ward landmark, Jones-Brown sold the Poplar to NCNB Community Development Corporation in 1978.²³ Two years later, under a joint development venture with SYNCO, Inc., a major Charlotte developer, the venture, going under the name Hackberry Place Associates, converted the Poplar into condominiums. Under the conversion, the first units were sold in September, 1980, some fifty years after its much-heralded opening during a very different time.

It is entirely fitting, however, that the Poplar should be a part of the revitalization of Fourth Ward in Charlotte. It was built at a time when that mostly-residential neighborhood near the city center was enjoying the peak of its prosperity, as was the rest of the city. Its massive elegance and exceptionally solid construction, complete with the best equipment of the time, and fine tile, marble, terrazzo and woodwork, represent a visual testament to the belief the developers had in the life of the city then and in the future. Their view has proven true through the renaissance of Fourth Ward following a decades long period of decline. Through it all, the Poplar remained the vision of the solid, lasting values of the community.

NOTES

¹ Charlotte News, May 21, 1906, p. 1.

² Mecklenburg County Certificate of Death, Book 28, p. 121.

³ Deed Book 717, p.65, 26 July 1928.

⁴ Deed Book 764, p.260, 24 October 1929.

⁵ Record of Corporations, Book 11, p.356.

⁶ Building Permit No. 9781, dated 25 January 1929.

⁷ Plans in possession of O’Dell Associates, Charlotte, NC.

⁸ See note 6.

⁹ Deed Book 764, p.260, 24 October 1929.

¹⁰ Deed Book 766, p.288, 15 December 1929.

¹¹ Charlotte Observer, March 16, 1930, Section 4, p.1.

¹² Charlotte Observer, March 20, 1930, pp.l9-21.

¹³ Ibid.

¹⁴ Ibid.

¹⁵ Deed Book 766, p.288; 15 December 1929; Deed Book 754, p.433, 8 August 1930.

¹⁶ See note 11.

¹⁷ Deed Book 754, p.433, 8 August 1930; Record of Corporations, Book 11, p.l9, 27 February 1928.

¹⁸ Deed Book 778, p.l50, 3 October 1930.

¹⁹ Deed Book 785, p.289, 20 October 1950.

²⁰ Record of Corporations, Book 15, p.132, 30 August 1935.

²¹ Deed Book 876, p.28, 28 September 1935.

²² Record of Corporations, Book 30, p.178, 3 May 1950.

²³ Deed Book 4101, p.786, 7 September 1978.

²⁴ Deed Book 4317, p.362, 30 June 1980; Deed Book 4334, pp.288-345, August 1980 (Declaration of Condominium).

²⁵ Deed Book 4383, p.300, 19 September 1980, et seq.

Lisa A. Stamper

Being a relatively new concept in American housing, the public was just beginning to accept the apartment house in the late 1910s and 1920s as a decent and even fashionable residence. Modern conveniences available in luxury apartment buildings were overcoming the stigmas of the lower-class connotation of tenement houses, the fear of health hazards, and the critics warnings that apartment house living would foster moral degradation into the eventual fall of the American family. Large apartment houses moved onto the outskirts of residential areas close to city centers.

Charlotte’s Poplar Apartments were a good example of this trend. Located at the corner of West Tenth and Poplar Streets, within easy walking distance from the central business district, the Poplar Apartments were built c. 1929. These luxury apartments were built in Charlotte’s old Fourth Ward residential area, then and now considered a fashionable address. Today the building retains its residential appeal, and is known as “The Poplar” following a 1980 condominium conversion.

The Poplar Apartments are five levels high. The apartment building has an underground parking garage, one of the first residential parking garages in Charlotte. The overall shape is a double-cross, with various bays and rectangular protrusions with crenels. These double-cross shapes with various slight protruding elements create a very visually stimulating back and forth movement.

Another significant design feature of this building is that each apartment was designed for maximum natural light and cross-ventilation. At the center of each cross is a circulation core with an elevator, a main stair, and two servants’ stairs plus a short cross-shaped hallway to four apartment units. Each unit occupied a leg of the cross, thus giving it natural light on three sides as well as cross-ventilation. These two circulation cores are connected at the ground floor level only.

This Jacobethan Revival style building was constructed with Flemish bond brick, limestone blocks, and concrete. The limestone blocks were cut into various angular shapes which were cut to fit together beautifully and which add a great deal of visual interest to the exterior. During restoration, the building was repainted with the original mortar color taken into consideration. Based on ancient English models, the Poplar Apartments are the large-scale counterpart of the Tudor Revival cottages popular in wealthy Myers Park in the 1920s.

The roof is flat with crenels cut into a concrete band which surrounds the top of the building. A short shingled, pyramidal-roofed tower topped by a weathervane is located near the front end of the building. Brick chimneys, elevator shafts, and other mechanical enclosures extend past the flat roof line, but are largely invisible from the street level. Also, a wooden deck was built on the roof. The deck is invisible from the street. The horizontal character of the roof is reinforced by the crenellated concrete band, a brick work section below it, and a solid concrete band underneath the brickwork. The continuously surround the building and carries one’s eye horizontally along the perimeter. In the brickwork section between the concrete bands, occasional Jacobethan decorative elements are found, such as diamonds and shields.

Rectangular casement windows of various sizes dominate the building. The windows are of metal and are composed of many rectangular panes. The window sills are of concrete. Most of the first level windows have brick lintels, but others are surrounded by large rectangular one-story sections of stone blocks with a crenel at either end and which have an arch cut over the window openings. Above most of these windows, a concrete band surrounds each of the four upper level windows as well as encompassing all four windows into one vertical unit. Rectangular brickwork between windows is divided vertically in half by another concrete band. At the time of restoration in 1980, individual heating/cooling units replaced the original central heating system. Unobtrusive vents were cut under the appropriate windows of each apartment.

The first floor front of the Poplar Apartments, which faces West Tenth Street, is recessed to form a porte cochere with a half-circle concrete drive. Two large Tudor arched openings allow the driveway to swing up to the front doors. Decorative carved stone reliefs are directly below the window sills above the Tudor arched openings. The outside wall of the entryway has three openings with grillwork: a large Tudor arched opening like those on the sides, and flanking thin rectangular openings. These openings allow natural light into the entryway. The front facade above the entryway is emphasized by limestone quoins.

For security, there were only two entrances to the building. One door was for guests arriving on foot, and the other was for those arriving by auto. Both entered into the front lobby. The main entrance is the door within the porte-cochere. The Tudor arched double door is wooden with glass in its two upper panels and two wooden panels in the bottom portion of each door. The doorway is decorated with a stone label hood mold and label stop as well as stone reliefs. Two round arched brick niches flank the entrance door. These niches contain brick and concrete benches on which to sit. The pedestrian entrance also opens into the lobby, but from the Poplar Street side. Rounded brick steps and a brick walkway lead from the street to the doorway. Although smaller than the main door, this one is of the same style. Quatrefoils, towers, shields, etc. elaborately decorate this entrance. All door knobs are of intricately detailed metal.

The entrance the underground garage is located on the back portion of the building on the Poplar Street side. Limestone block walls with rusticated gray stone corners lead down from the street to the garage area. A new garage door has been added at the bottom of the drive; however, it is not obvious from the street. Each resident had a parking place originally. This indicated that the Poplar Apartments was intended to be inhabited by the upper class. Simple, square concrete columns which fan out at the top and base are found here. The mechanical operations which were located in the underground area off from the garage area in 1919 are still intact. The garage/basement is still used as much as it was originally except that storage closets have been added for each resident. A laundry area was added for the residents’ convenience.

The lobby contains most of its original wood-paneled wainscoting which extends approximately seven feet high from the floor. Even the large square columns are paneled in the same manner. There is painted paneling above the wainscoting. Dentil molding defines the transition from wall to ceiling. The stone floor is now covered by a red carpet; however, the stone can be seen around the perimeter of the lobby and does not appear to be damaged. It is composed of irregular shapes and colors of stone held together by a black joining material.

From the lobby, stone steps lead one up to the hallway which leads to circulation cores located in the center of each “cross” in the building plan. The elevator in each core is an Otis elevator with the original fixtures intact. The secondary stairwells were probably used as servants’ stairs and only one can be entered through the hall. These stairs are of metal. Next to the main stair is a maid’s closet with a sink and what is believed to have been a trash or laundry chute.

The condominiums stem off in four directions from each circulation core. There are nine types of condominiums ranging from an one bedroom 800 square foot unit to a three bedroom, two bath with sunroom, 1,550 square foot unit. In the 1930s, the lure of these apartments were their modern conveniences without the bother of maintaining a house. Modern baths were provided, some apartments even had two. Both a living room and dining room were available as well as a modern kitchen.

Although some of the walls and moldings were removed by some of the residents, most condominiums still retain many of their original elements: original walls, molded window sills, moldings which formed rectangular panels on the walls, ceiling molding, wood floors, mantels, door knobs, and other fixtures. All doorways had heavily molded frames and all the doors were paneled. Heavily molded mantels were of wood, with brick inside. Niches flanked these mantels, giving the wall the same in-and-out movement of the exterior of the building. When changes were made, for example replacement of cabinets, most were made with thoughtful consideration of the original style.

The exterior of The Poplar is surrounded by sensitive new brickwork and beautiful plantings. West Tenth Street runs in front of the building. The street has a landscaped median with benches for sitting. On the opposite side of West Tenth Street recently constructed townhouses can barely be seen through the trees. Poplar Street runs lengthwise on the southeast side of the building. Across Poplar Street is Edwin Towers. Behind The Poplar is Setters Land, a new condominium development. On the northwest side of The Poplar a parking lot was built during the restoration for residents and their guests. A small shed was built between the building and parking lot to shelter a staircase which leads down to the parking garage. A brick and cast iron fence was built to enclose the parking lot. On the other side of the fence is property to be developed into condominiums. Brick and cast iron fences are also located along the back of The Poplar and on the Poplar Street side to enclose court yards. The fences were built at the time of restoration. Brick sidewalks run alongside the building next to Poplar and West Tenth Streets. Small, rectangular courtyards are formed where the shape of the building creates recesses. Decorative stones and bricks are used in landscaping these areas, as well as grasses, bushes, and small trees. Many trees and bushes, following the original landscape theme, were planted along the building foundation.

The Poplar Apartments building is an architecturally important part of Charlotte’s residential historical development, and represents an excellent example of the national trend of the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Jacobethan style of the building reflects one of the most popular residential styles of the city’s prosperous years before the Depression in a new and progressive form. Charlotte was very fortunate to have had the Poplar Apartments built, considering the drastic economic shift shortly after construction began, and Charlotte would be very unfortunate to let anything harm the character of its first luxury apartment building.

This report was written on July 3, 1989

1. Name and location of the property: The property known as the Palmer Fire School is located at 2601 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC.

2. Name, address, and telephone number of the present owner of the property: The owner of the property is:

City of Charlotte
c/o O. Wendell White
City Manager
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
600 East Fourth St.
Charlotte, N.C. 28202

Telephone: (704) 336-2241

3. Representative photographs of the property: This report contains representative photographs of the property.

4 A map depicting the location of the property: This report contains a map which depicts the location of the property.

5. Current Deed Book Reference to the property: There is no record in the Mecklenburg County Tax Office of the listing of the most recent deed to this property. The Tax Parcel Number of the property is: 127-091-01.

6. A brief historical sketch of the property: This report contains a brief historical sketch of the property prepared by Dr. William H. Huffman, Ph.D.

7. A brief architectural description of the property: This report contains a brief architectural description of the property prepared by Mary Beth Gatza.

8. Documentation of why and in what ways the property meets the criteria for designation set forth in N.C.G.S. 160A-399.4:

a. Special significance in terms of its history, architecture, and/or cultural importance: The Commission judges that the property known as the Palmer Fire School does possess special significance in terms of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. The Commission bases its judgment on the following considerations: 1) the Palmer Fire School, a WPA project which opened on May 13, 1940, served as a training center and social center for the Charlotte Fire Department until 1976; 2) the Palmer Fire School, named for Charlotte Fire Chief Hendrix Palmer, was at the time of its opening one of the finest facilities of its type in the United States; and 3) the Palmer Fire School, especially the rubble stone education building, possesses architectural significance.

b. Integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling, and/or association: The Commission contends that the architectural description by Mary Beth Gatza which is included in this report demonstrates that the Palmer Fire School meets this criterion.

9. Ad Valorem Tax Appraisal: The Commission is aware that designation would allow the owner to apply for an automatic deferral of 50% of the Ad Valorem taxes on all or any portion of the property which becomes “historic property.” The current appraised value of the improvements is $270,080. The current appraised value of the 5.250 acres of land is $288,130. The total appraised value of the property is $558,210. The property is zoned 06.

Date of Preparation of this Report: July 3, 1989

Prepared by: Dr. Dan L. Morrill
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Properties Commission
1225 S. Caldwell St.
Charlotte, NC 28203

Telephone: (704) 376-9115

Dr. William H. Huffman

Although it may not be well-known among the general public, the Palmer Fire School, often known also as Fireman’s Hall, nonetheless enjoyed state-wide and national prominence for many years. Located on East Seventh and Fifth Streets, it was designed by the City Engineering Department and built in 1938-40 at the edge of the city limits of the day. In addition to being the best fire training facility in the state, it was also one of the finest in the country.

It was named for the man most responsible for its construction, William Hendrix Palmer (1884-1955), who was a forty-four-year member of the city fire department and its chief from 1927 to 1948. Chief Palmer began his fire service with the city on October 1, 1904, and through the years held nearly every job in the department. Recognized internationally as a progressive innovator in fire fighting, the York County, SC native had, among other distinctions, credit for “designing and promoting the manufacture of the first enclosed fire truck in America,” ¹ which went on to become standard equipment throughout the country. Its design was prompted by the death of a firefighter from riding on the side of a fire truck, and the City of Charlotte was the first in the country to adopt the new equipment. Twice elected president of the North Carolina Firemen’s Association, Palmer also helped organize the NC Fire Chiefs Association and became its first president. The highlight of his career came in 1940, when he was elected president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the most prestigious post of his profession.²

Over the years, Hendrix Palmer saw many changes take place in the business of putting out and preventing fires. In 1906, he fired the horse-drawn engine operated by his father, J. P. Palmer, when they fought a stable fire at the time of the county fair in Dilworth, and in 1912, he saw Charlotte’s first motor fire truck take its place alongside the horse-drawn ones.³ Continued subsequent modernization of equipment and techniques, and the enlargement of the department as the city grew necessitated more and better training for the crews. The records dealing with training in the department begin in 1930, three years after Hendrix Palmer became chief, when forty-eight men of a 190-member department received Red Cross instruction. Regular training drills lasted 30 days, and included all aspects of equipment handling. Hose layout and pump operation were taught by Assistant Chief C. M. Griswold at Seigle and Orr Streets. That same year, 1930, the chief submitted a request to the city for a drill school and practice tower.⁴

In 1932, the request was again sent forward, and two years later the project was approved for construction by the Public Works Department, but due to a legal technicality, it was nullified by the North Carolina Supreme Court before it could be built.⁵ In addition to the necessity of requesting a change in the laws by the city council to remove the legal barriers, Chief Palmer had to begin all over again fighting for the funds to build the project in the face of an ever-deepening economic depression. Finally, in 1938, success came. To combat unemployment in the nation’s longest and worst depression, the Roosevelt administration had set up the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935 to put people to work on a wide variety of federal, state and local public works projects, all funded by the government. The fire training school was approved as a WPA project, with an estimated cost of $54,000, and plans were drawn by the City Engineering Department.⁶

In order to build the kind of facility he wanted, Chief Palmer involved the firefighters themselves in helping out. Some of the building materials for the school and tower came from an old incinerator on the site, but most of the stone for the hall came from an old tannery on Burton Street, which used to be operated by the father of former Charlotte Mayor Victor Shawl. Stone by stone, the firefighters hauled the material from the abandoned tannery to the school site according to predetermined work schedules. They were carried on a two-wheel pole trailer that was pulled by a maintenance truck.

The efforts of the department personnel did not end there, however. Two captains, J. R. Jamison and R. T. Barnes landscaped the five-acre grounds with trees, shrubs, posts, and other improvements, and later, when they needed more room, the firefighters dug out and finished the remaining two-thirds of the basement. Since in those days the department maintained its own shops, many of the interior improvements came from there, including the old wood benches with the department insignia at the ends. The woodworking shop was under the direction of Captain Glen Beckham, who formerly worked for H. M. Wade, manufacturer of office and bank furnishings.⁷

Years of effort finally bore fruit on May 13, 1940, when the Palmer Fire School was dedicated. Preceding the dedication was a luncheon at the Hotel Charlotte, hosted by Mayor Douglas and Chief Palmer, where, in speech to the gathering, Samuel J. Pope, Chief of the Boston, Massachusetts Fire Department and president of the New England Fire Chiefs Association called Hendrix Palmer “one of the outstanding fire chiefs in America.” Other guests of honor were D. W. Brosnan, Chief of the Albany, Georgia Fire Department and ex-president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and Sherwood Brockwell, the North Carolina state fire marshal.⁸

At the 3 P.M. dedication, Mayor Ben Douglas was master of ceremonies, where T. P. Richardson, Charlotte area supervisor of the WPA, handed the keys to the new school and drill tower to C. C. McGinnis, state WPA administrator, who gave them to Charlotte City Manager J. B. Marshall. He in turn presented them to the beaming Hendrix Palmer. Addressing a large audience at the ceremony, State Fire Marshal Brockwell praised both Chief Palmer for his tireless efforts, and the work of the department personnel, who helped bring the finished project in for about $50,000, some $4,000 under the estimate. He went on to say that “Charlotte now has the finest training center for firemen in the United States,” and announced that starting immediately, the annual three-day North Carolina Fire College and Drill School, which had traveled around the state, would be held at the Charlotte facility.⁹ Ten years later, when he was retired, Chief Palmer was as proud as ever of the five-acre school: “That’s a unique setup out there. Nothing like it in the country, except at Brookline, Massachusetts.”¹⁰

For thirty-six years, the Palmer Fire School and drill tower not only provided training for local firefighters and those from throughout the state (some also came from Rock Hill, South Carolina) in one of the best facilities in the nation, but it also served as a clubhouse and social center for the fire personnel as well. For many years, the Benefit Fund held square dances in the hall, and annual barbecues were festive affairs looked forward to by the department members. The hall was also rented out to civic groups, and the proceeds allowed the hall to be self-sufficient in maintenance.

In 1976, the training division moved out to a newly constructed fire/police training facility, and shortly thereafter it was transferred to the City Parks and Recreation department. The hall and drill tower have since been used by various civic groups for such things as wilderness training and rehearsal space for the Charlotte Shakespeare Company. Indeed, the Palmer Fire School and drill tower not only have the historical distinction of being perhaps the best of their kind in the country when first put into use, but also could have a long and useful life of service to the community in the years ahead.¹⁰

NOTES

¹ Charlotte News, August 26, 1955, p. 1.

² Ibid.; Charlotte Observer, August 9, 1940.

³ Charlotte Observer, February 28, 1950, p. 7J.

⁴ T. E. Gardner, “History of Training in the Charlotte Fire Department,” unpublished typescript, March 9, 1976.

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ Charlotte News, May 13, 1940, p. 11; plans on file at City of Charlotte Engineering Department.

⁷ Ibid.; Interview with Chief R. L. Blackwelder, Charlotte, North Carolina, 16 August 1984; Interview with Joe Morris, retired-Fire Marshal, 9 October 1984.

⁸ Charlotte News, May 13, 1940, p. 11.

⁹ Charlotte Observer, May 13, 1940, p. 11

¹⁰ Ibid., February 28, 1940, p. 7J.

¹¹ Interview with Chief Blackwelder.

M. B. Gatza

Two structures stand at the Palmer Fire School site, both erected around 1938-40. The first is the school building and the second is a six-story all-brick tower, presumably used for drills. The most salient feature of the school building is the crenellated parapet at the roofline, which is slightly reminiscent of a medieval castle. Laid up in uncoursed rubble stone with wide mortar joints, the building is rectangular in shape. The facade (the narrow side of the rectangle) is five bays wide. The two end bays project from the plane of the facade and are pierced only by tall, narrow windows. This treatment suggests a fortified tower. The inner two bays each hold an 18-pane industrial steel sash window. The central entrance is composed of a double door with a half-round overlight. An aluminum marquis (not original) has been installed which conceals the overlight and shields the stoop. A set of stone and concrete steps extend down to a concrete sidewalk, and another set reaches down to the paved drive.

The north and south elevations are-not identical. The north side of the building faces the practice tower, and is therefore an important elevation. It is nine bays wide, including a functioning exterior fireplace (located in bay #5). As on the facade, the end bays project from the wall surface and are pierced only by tall, narrow fixed-sash windows. Bays #2, #4, #6 and #8 (counting from the east) hold 24-pane industrial steel sash windows. Bays #3 and #7 contain single entry doors, both reached by a small set of stone and concrete steps. A modern wheelchair ramp has been built over the steps on bay #3, but it is compatible in materials and construction. There is a sunken basement entry located under bay #8, which consists of a single door, and is reached also by a stone and concrete ramp. Black pipe railing shields the entry. There is an aluminum marquis (not original) over the entry in bay #3, but the one over bay #7 is missing. The fireplace and its chimney project slightly and are also laid up in uncoursed rubble stone. The top of the chimney, though, is stuccoed from the level of the parapet upwards.

The south elevation, like the north side, is symmetrical. Nine bays wide, it features a central entrance. The entry has a double door with an aluminum marquis, and stone and concrete steps. The two end bays project and have the same narrow windows as on the other elevations. The remaining six bays all hold 24-pane industrial steel sash windows. Two basement entries are located beneath bays #4 and 8, and feature curved decorative curved concrete hoods. The entries are reached by concrete steps, which are shielded by iron pipe railings.

The ‘tower’ treatment is repeated on the rear of the building in the two end bays, but it is otherwise unfenestrated. A modern gable-roofed addition and chimney have been constructed out of a gray-colored brick. The tower stands six stories high and is laid up in five-course common bond brick. There are window openings on all four sides and on all six stories, but only those on the ground-floor level are glazed. They are fitted with 12-pane industrial steel sash windows, and wooden shutters. Openings on the upper stories are simply left open. All of the openings have concrete sills. The original glazed door and transom are in place. On the interior, the six levels are divided by concrete slab floors, and a metal stair risers all the way to the top in the southeast corner.