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Turn of the 20th Century: Life in Charlotte 1900 - 1910
The Clothes We Wore
Let us see how people dressed in Charlotte over one hundred years ago. Notice how much fabric went into each garment. By this time, factories made most clothing in mass production, making clothing more affordable. However, some women still sewed at home and mended any tears or holes. Hats are still made by hand by experienced milliners. Think about how fashions have changed since then.
First Time Events
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Edwin S. Porter, of the Edison Corporation, produces the first Western movie, The Great Train Robbery in 1903. (Actor Justin D. Barnes firing at the audience.)
- Odeon and Wonderland show the first movie in Charlotte on March 18, 1907 at The Academy of Music.
Thaddeus Tate Home
The Thaddeus Tate residence once stood at 504 East 7th Street and was typical of the style of homes prevalent in Charlotte in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Some houses mixed various architectural styles because of renovations and personal taste. Most are two stories. Although air conditioning comes along in 1906, most families did not enjoy the benefits until after World War II.
Working Women
At the turn-of-the-century, very few women work outside the home. The traditional jobs for professional women are teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. The majority of working class women in Charlotte work in a laundry or in textile mills. Click to see the different kinds of occupations women had according to the 1908 Charlotte City Directory followed by the number of Charlotte women in that profession and a brief definition.
The Square
“The Square” is the oldest intersection in the city. It’s at Trade & Tryon Streets. This is how it looks around 1900.
Homes and Housewares
Beautiful homes, such as the Robert Miller Home, seen here, once lined the streets of Uptown Charlotte. This is where the elite classes resided before moving out into the suburbs. The vast majority of people live in more smaller homes. Working class people in the mills lived in villages often owned by the owner of the mill. This is a scene from the Hoskins Mill Village.
Labor Unions
In the early 1900s, there were twenty labor unions in Charlotte. One hundred years later there are only twelve unions.
American Federation of Labor Central Labor Union
Bartender’s League No. 211
Bricklayers & Masons Lodge, No. 3
Brotherhood of Painters, Paperhangers and Decorators Union, No. 329
Carpenters and Joiners Union, No. 558
Charlotte Printing Pressmen & Assistants Union, No. 41
Charlotte Typographical, Union No. 338
1905 Charlotte
In 1905, Charlotte has:
3 Car Dealerships
6 Stables
41 Secret and Benevolent Societies
15 Saloons
20 Drugstores
14 Restaurants
34 Boarding Houses and 8 Hotels
34 Fire Alarm Boxes
7 Dairies
13 Newspapers
Feathers, Ribbons and Bows: The Art of Making Hats
Many, many hours went into making a hat such as the one this lady is wearing. At this time, hat makers or milliners decorated their creations with feathers, fake and real flowers, berries, leaves, and even stuffed birds. Ladies would purchase a basic hat and the more accessories requested for the hat, the higher the price.
