Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

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All About the Declaration

1882 - Senator Bayard speech

 

Cover of 1882 celebration speech by Senator Bayard with introductory remarks by Governors Ransom and Vance.

1875 - James Belk


At the 1875 celebration, James `Jimmy` Belk claimed to have been visiting Charlotte as a child and to have been an eyewitness to the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration at the Mecklenburg County courthouse on May 20, 1775. If so, he was the oldest surviving witness to the event.

1875 Souvenir - Independence Square

 

Independence Square, now known as The Square, was drawn on stone by Geo. Welch, Architect and Artist, from sketches accurately taken by him on the spot, as reported in The Daily Charlotte Observer on 5/6/1875, p. 4. This lithograph was a fine souvenir for the Meck Dec centennial in 1875.

1853 Memorial

North Carolina. Declaration of Independence May 1775. The state of North Carolina presented this native block of white marble to the Washington Monument in the District of Columbia at noon on February 22, 1853.

 

List of Scenes

Shout Freedom!

Below, you will find the complete transcript of the play, "Shout Freedom!" by LeGette Blythe. Each scene is presented in PDF format for your viewing and printing convenience.

From the official program:

 The Scenes:

Time: The 1750s, and the period of 1768-1781

Places: Mecklenburg (the original county); Charlottetown, near Phifer's Mill in the present Cabarrus County, Alamance, Alexandriana, Philadelphia, Kings Mountain.

Scenes in Act I:

Historical Document Index

Throughout the years, many documents and print materials have been developed to commemorate "Meck Dec" Day. This is a comprehensive listing of historical documents found in this online exhibit.