Law & Government

United States Post Office & former branch of the US Mint

This picture was taken along the 400 block of West Trade Street in the early 1900s. On the left is the United States Post Office and on the right is the United States Mint, which at this time was an Assay Office. The Post Office was built in 1881 and demolished in 1915. A fire in 1844 destroyed the first Mint, but it was rebuilt and completed by 1846, and resumed minting coins. By the time, this postcard was taken, coins were no longer being minted here.

"To Serve and Protect"

The Charlotte Police Department posed for this picture in 1910. Seated, from left to right: Hugh Shields, Cliff Bell, J.T. Farrington, J.D. Johnson, B.J. Summerow. Standing left to right: M.M. Earnhart, Charles Ayers, Lee Hargett, J.E. Crowell and J.M. Earnhart.

County Courthouse

Charlotte has been the county seat of Mecklenburg County since 1762. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1766. By the time the turn-of the-century, the city had its Fourth County Courthouse that was located on the southeast corner of Tryon and Third Streets. Local lawyers occuped the building to the right.

Law and Government

Charlotte City Hall was built Charlotte in 1891. Located on the corner of North Tryon and Fifth Street, it housed not only the office of the mayor and the room where the alderman met, but also the Police and the Fire Department.

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