By 1900, the O'Donoghue School was the oldest private school in Charlotte. It was established on August 27, 1887 by the Sisters of Mercy. It was first called St. Mary's Seminary. This school was for children whose parents wanted them to receive a Catholic education. In 1905, the school moved to a larger building at 531 South Tryon Street, and changed its name to the O'Donoghue School after the school's benefactor, Dr. Dennis O'Donoghue.
Below are things you would have seen in 1900. The date beside each item indicates the year it was invented.
French Fries - 1700s by Thomas Jefferson
Bicycles - 1790
Graham Crackers - 1829
Lawn mowers - 1830
Chewing gum - 1848
Sewing Machines - 1851
Elevators - 1853
Dynamite - 1866
Cracker Jacks - 1872
Mail Order Catalogs - 1872
Ketchup - 1876
Telephones - 1876
Toilet Paper - 1880
Coca Cola by John Pemberton - 1886
Basketball - 1891
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Roll film cameras by Kodak were first introduce in 1895. Eastman Kodak Company became one of the largest manufacturers of home cameras. This enabled families to take home pictures without hiring a professional photographer. The Van Ness Family operated a photograph studio and sold camera equipment and film from their store at 125 East Fifth Street from the 1870s to well into the 1930s. William I. Van Ness was the son of local photographer, James Van Ness who was one of Charlotte's early photographers.
The Bee Hive was a popular place to go shopping for clothes and shoes. Located at 43-47 East Trade Street, this small drygoods store opened in 1902 by H. M. Efird with cooperation of Charles A. Williams of the Williams & Shelton Company.
Believe it or not, everything has a history, including chewing gum! Listed below are some things you might recognize. Beside each item, is the name of the person or persons associated with introducing or inventing the product, and the year it became popularly known.
French Fries by President Thomas Jefferson - 1700s
Modern Bicycle by John Kemp Starley - 1871
Graham Crackers are associated with the dietary recommendations of the Reverend Sylvestor Graham - 1750
The turn of the century marks the beginning of the Edwardian period in architecture and furniture design. Elaborate wood carvings and heavy fabrics are very popular. The Andrews Furniture and Music Store carried a wide array of futniture and organs. Most homes had an organ from the late 1800s until the 1920s when pianos became more popular. Andrews was located at 16 West Trade Street.
Playtime is very important. Girls usually wear smocks over their dresses, and most boys run barefoot. In town, small parks become a common playground for children, complete with swing sets. These open spaces give children lots of room to play baseball, basketball, Hide-and-Seek, Ring-Around-the-Rosie, “Drop-the-Handkerchief, and Follow-the-Leader.
Independence Park in Elizabeth was the first city park in Charlotte. There were swings, basektball courts, badmitton and a host of other playground activities available to children in Charlotte.
