Realities in 1900

This is a picture of the Atherton Mill on East Boulevard. Today the building houses condominiums. Until 1901, children under the age of 12 could work in textile mills. After the law changed, children had to attend school. However, this did not apply to children of widowed mothers, who worked to provide support for the family. There are 676 children working in Mecklenburg County in 1900. Their average annual salary is $99.00.

Other realities that would seem harsh include:

• Segregation of the races is strictly enforced.
• All businesses, including movie theaters were closed every Sunday.
• No sporting events took place on Sunday.
• Adults worked up to sixty hours a week as opposed to the forty hours most people work today. 

Next

Return to Home Page