First Ward Tax Valuation Collection, 1986-1988

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-2019-011

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

First Ward was historically recognized as the most diverse and economically integrated of the four wards. This collection contains newspaper clippings, photographs, tax line map drawings, and tax valuation forms that detail First Ward properties in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each document includes fields such as: property tax number, street address, property owner, size, amount sold, month/year of purchase, year built, land acreage, tax assessed value, and total. Each form has a photo of the property described. Materials date 1986-1988.

Dates

1986 - 1988

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to the public without restriction. The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to duplicate or publish material for any collection belonging to the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room must be obtained by Library staff.

Biographical / Historical

First Ward was historically recognized as the most diverse and economically integrated of the four wards. City directories beginning in 1897 show integrated neighborhoods, although some blocks still housed all-white or all-black families. Black neighborhoods primarily formed on Alexander Street and Sixth Street. For the integrated neighborhood blocks, white families largely remained in their households until after the demolition of Second Ward (Brooklyn) in the 1960s, when many black families were forced to find new housing.

First Ward residents were working-class. Post-Civil War, First Ward was commonly referred to as “Mechanicsville” due to the amount of men who worked at the Confederate Naval Yard across Trade Street. Businesses sprang up on Trade and Tryon Streets as well, with landmarks including, but not limited to, Woolworth, Carolina Theatre, Hovis Mortuary, Belk’s, Merchant and Farmers Bank, and Court Arcade. The Old Columbia and Charlotte Railroad was the first rail line in Charlotte and sat between Brevard Street and College Street.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

0.75 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The First Ward Tax Valuation Collection contains newspaper clippings, photographs, tax line map drawings, and tax valuation forms that detail First Ward properties in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each document includes fields such as: property tax number, street address, property owner, size, amount sold, month/year of purchase, year built, land acreage, tax assessed value, and total. Each form has a photo of the property described. Materials date 1986-1988.

Arrangement

Materials in this collection are organized by the property's address. If no address was given, the folder title reflects the parcel identification number instead. Materials were kept in the original order in which the collection was received.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated to the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room by an unknown presenter in September 2008.

Related Materials

Thies Realty Collection, 1981-1995, Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Fourth Ward Tax Valuation Collection, 1983-1985, Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Third Ward Tax Valuation Collection, 1983-1985, Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.