1916- Celebration Program

The following is an article describing the details of the celebrations planned for the 1916 Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence anniversary.

The Charlotte news 5/19/1916, p. 15

VISITORS FAST FILLING THE CITY – ARRIVAL MILITIA Governors of North and South Carolina Coming Tonight Militia Due This Afternoon and Tonight – Program for This Evening.  

Parade Details Finally Completed – Units Will Assemble Tomorrow Early At Points Designated – Celebration Overshadows All Else Today.  

The Twentieth, long-heralded and long-talked-of, and the coming of the President of the United States and many notable men to Queen Charlotte, are now events of but a few hours waiting, and then the climax of the week and one of the greatest events in the history of Charlotte will become reality. With every train today pouring its hundreds of visitors into the city and interurban cars and automobiles arriving from every point, the multitudes on the streets were rapidly assuming immense proportions and it was expected that by nightfall the up-town section would be overflowing with visitors and Twentieth sight-seers.  

Governors and Military.  

The arrival this afternoon and tonight of a score of companies of the North Carolina National Guard, and the Richmond Blues and Grays, and of the governors of North and South Carolina and their official parties, will be the outstanding events of the day. By night Charlotte should contain 1,500 to 2,000 militia, with others expected early tomorrow morning. These will be given quarters in the Latta-Duke building on West First street, each company bringing its quota of cots along, while provision will be made for taking first class care of the visiting militia by the local committees.  

The arrival of Governor Craig at 4 p.m. and of Governor Manning of South Carolina, is announced for tonight, and these distinguished guests will be met at the Southern depot by special committees who will welcome them to Charlotte and escort them to their hotels.  

Preparations Complete.  

Every preparation for the entertainment of the multitudes expected tonight and tomorrow has been made by hotels, boarding and lodging houses, and the Twentieth headquarters are also prepared to send several thousand to private homes for lodging or meals, and it is believed that the city will be able to take care at least of a large majority of those applying for rooms and board while here. Nothing has been left to chance by the entertainment and reception committees, and while engaged in making ready for the entertainment of the president and the distinguished folk coming Saturday, the committees have not neglected to look out beforehand for the welfare of the great throngs of visitors expected for the celebration tomorrow. They now believe that their work has been successfully planned and that Charlotte will be able to give shelter and entertainment to the vast majority of her visitors for Saturday.  

Evening Program.  

This evening there will be band concerts at various points in the uptown section. The carnival on First and South Tryon will be open at 3 p. m., and the fireworks display is set for 8 p.m. at Wilmoore, near the intersection of South Tryon and Park avenue.  

At the Chamber of Commerce at 8:30 p.m., the address on the Mecklenburg Declaration takes place, the speaker being Dr. Archibald Henderson of the University of North Carolina, while the great military ball at the auditorium begins at 9 o’clock this evening.  

At Headquarters.  

At Twentieth headquarters in the Selwyn scores of Boy Scouts waited all day today and were in and out on errands for the various committees while the final details for the events of tomorrow were gotten into satisfactory shape, and actual preliminaries were set on foot for the great day’s tasks. The management of the monster parade, in charge of Chairman W. S. Orr of the parade committee, took up much time, and every detail was settled for the quick and systematic formation of the parade tomorrow morning.  

The parade units will assemble on South Boulevard, East Morehead, South Tryon beyond Morehead and on several lateral streets, the meeting place for each unit having been carefully designated beforehand, and at the signal the head of the column will begin to move and the various units and sections will fall in line as the long parade gets under way. The route will be south Tryon to Independence Square, then along Trade to Poplar; out Poplar to Ninth and on Ninth to Tryon and then back to the square and out East Trade to College, and up North College past the reviewing stand, the parade disbanding at Twelfth street and on North Tryon.  

The arrangement of the scores of units in the parade was not completed until a late hour last night. This program is given in The News today.