1941-Holiday Closings

The Charlotte Observer 5/20/1941 p.6

Banks, Courthouse, City Hall Close Today  

Will Observe Independence Day----City Schools, Federal Building and All Other Business Establishments Will Continue as Usual.  

Charlotte will celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence by the closing of banks, the city hall, and the courthouse.  

On other occasions United States presidents have spoken, pageants have been held, and almost always military units have marched in a parade. However, May 20 will pass this time with little ado.  

The courthouse will close as tight as a drum, and County Accountant G. D. Bradshaw was surprised anyone even bothered to ask.  

Why, of course it will be closed. As long as there is a Mecklenburg courthouse, I think it ought to close without waiting for anything.  

“Mecklenburg didn’t wait when it declared its independence before the Revolution.”  

City hall workers, according to one official, will be given a free day “if they can conveniently stop their work. And you bet they can make it convenient. My desk will be as clean as a whistle.”  

Banks will observe the state holiday by giving their employees the day off.  

Because May 20 is a state anniversary which has not been adopted by the Federal government, the post office and agencies in the building will operate as usual.  

City school children will not be given any additional free time, but classes will observe the occasion with appropriate exercises, including patriotic speeches and explanations of the origins of the holiday.  

County schools, except for Davidson, are already out for the summer, and Davidson will have full classes in order to end the semester Wednesday.