iVeto Book To Explore:
First
Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow
to.;,*:* Past Staff WHIsr -.
“Pint Ward was part at ffsr
original MO acres radiating from
Trade and Tryoo that was desig
nated M Charlotte in 17M....In 1870
Charlotte divided itself into four
quathwnts for political riyn—nf
Flrst, Second Third and Fourth
Wards.”
These ere excerpts from a paper
entitled “First Ward: Yesterday
Today Tomorrow” prepared by
Nancy Jones, Debbie FuUbright and
r Kooy. ‘..^*5T^S5S5^A'.
• Mrs. Jones and Mrs. FuUbright
have since carried the paper, and
assignment for University of North
Carolina, Charlotte class, further.
Both have sought to work In conjunc
tion with the First Ward elementary
school and First Ward past and
present residents in compiling a
hook.
“This book will be used in conjunc- |
tion with First Wards School’s 85th
Anniversary Celebration to be held
’ b> April. The clebration is entitled
“Sake’s Alive: We’re 85”.
Nancy Jones and Debbie Full
bright are both married with child
ren attending First Ward Elemen
; tary. Both are completing their
degrees at the University North
Carolina, Charlotte and became in
terested in writing a paper about the
community for one simple reason
their children attended the school.
TheLpaper was prepared for a course
entitled ‘Planning For Charlotte's
Future’ taught by Dr. David Gold
Tbey had no ides that they would
actually embark upon such a rich
heritage and a special part of
• Charlotte—virtually the heart.
‘‘First Ward was the only historic
neighborhood — early 1900‘s that
was integrated, "Mrs. Jones pre
sented. “Whites and blocks of all
economic and social levels lived
within the radius of First Ward.”
The early First Ward was bordered
by Tryon and Trade Streets on
the north and west, and eventually to
1 McDowell street and the present
day Brookshire Expressway (south
ern and eastern boundaries respec
tively.)
The book is now in outline form. It
will contain the rich history of the
First Ward area. Mrs. Jones and
Mrs. Full bright have also solicited
services of First Ward Elementary
principal, teachers and 71 students
to help gather information. This
project will give die school, as well
as the community and indepth study
of its origins and perhaps spark a
sense of pride. >.
In addition to the historical com
ments from former and present
residents, experiences of present
day students at First Ward Elemen
tary will be included.
The following are paraphrased
excerpts which will be included in
the book. Pleape note, however, that
the following gives only a glimpse of
the indepth work placed into finding
out more about the heritage of
Charlotte's First Ward.
The growth of First Ward and
Charlotte from 1870 to IttO was
extraordinary. While the textile
industry nourished the white work
ing class built their homes alongride
their black neighbors in First Ward.
Prestigious churches were built -
| two fsmhiaing ones include First
Presbyterian on the corner of Se
venth and College and the Little
Rock AME Zion on the corner of
Seventh and Myers. These buddings
Debbie FaIIbright and Nancy Joaes, authors af the a 1877 map of Charlotte,
upcoming history boak oa Charlotte's First Ward. baM
Fint in series
are fine examples of Victorian Goth
ic and Neo-Classical architecture.
First Presbyterian was the church
First Ward’s residential black pro
fessionals, while Old Little Rock
was designed by J.M. McMichael for
the black working class. First Ward
School has been in existence since
the early 1900’s. It is now the oldest
elementary school in Charlotte.
In the 1990’s instead of Earle
Village there were elegant mansions
along Tryoo, impressive homes
alongs College and McDowell and
fine middle class housii^ in its
interior. It was die city’s favorite
residential area. There was a coope
rative atmosphere in the racially
mixed economic sector.
The authors wrote “The period
from 1990-1960 shows the downhill
trend of First Ward that eventuated
its virtual destruction with the urban
renewal in the sixties. The Depres
sion of the thirties had taken Its toll
among businesses, Mm* »wH white
alike. Jim Crow laws translated into
a racial polarization in the inte
grated community.”
Many residents began to leave for
the north in search of better oppor
tunities. Many sold or rented
property. Whites, in the ns*r
automobile era relocated to cheaper
real estate in the new suburban
areas of the city. Paridi« lots
became more prominent in First
Ward.
By the IMO’s First Ward appeared
to be a mass of parking lots,
run-down businesses, and rental
housing that was inappropriately
maintained by absentee landlords.
Many regarded this area as a fast
growing slum district.
“The reel devastation occured,”
the authors revested,” ss s result of
Veman Sawyer’s Redevelopment
Commission in the sixties.” The
result was the bulldozing of the
black residential awe of First Ward
end the erection in 1997 of Earle
Village Homes, a 409 unit public
bousing project named after Earle
duck. The area is racially
imbalanced with more than 90
percent of the area black. The area
residents aie densely clustered with
roughly half of the land area left
undeveloped. Great expanses of
open lots were simply left vacant as
a result of the sixties renewal Which
(rased the structures, the history
and the community of First Ward.”
The I960 census revealed that the
population in First Ward is 1,901
fir-*—' ■".
compared to the 1960 census of 6,090.
Of the 678 residential units in all of
First Ward, 642 are multi-family
units. Of the 1,900 residents in First
Ward, 1,316 are housed in Earle
Village. ' \ •
Next Week: We will take a look at
more indepth plans for the upcoming
book concerning First Ward and
explore Mrs. Jones and Mrs.
FuD bright’s interest in promoting
neighborhood unity in First Ward.
m
3 (HMUiirre >>>•" ,-. . - j"..-'
%N®*10* I
Minority/Women Business Enterprises
Suppliers, Professional Service Firms
and Potential M/WBEs
Plan to Attend
Quarterly Conference on City-County Purchases
Saturday, February 16, 1985, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
McDonalds Cafeteria, I-85 and Beatties Ford Road
'v: Purchasing Department
Proposed Purehases for February end March, 1SSS| j:'
It Is the intention of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
to advertise for proposed purchases during February and March.
The City and County encourage ait Business Enterprises in
cluding those owned and operated by minorities and women to
consider participating in these projects.
* ' ‘ ,
Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Fittings
Clay Brick
Reinforced Concrete Pipe
One Fork Truck . . '. .... v
Various and sundry office and janitorial supplies and automotive
parts.
Note: A listing of construction projects for the upcoming quarter
wiH be.availabie for M/WBEs in Construction., ^.
For further information caN:
Purchasing Department-Bin Mouchet-330-2256
M/WBE Coordinator, Community Relations Committee-George
Wallace-336-2424
M/WBE Program Director-EIttabeth MHIs-336-2256
——.-: .—._ '
I ■ / ■-;;;- ^ -<
Black History Month is a time to reflect. A time to
look back with pride at the countless achievements
made by Black Americans, and a HHHHIHH
time to look forward with hope
for the future.