Here’s a unique circa 1900 vs. 2019 side-by-side view of intersection of Depot and Jackson Streets looking East on Depot towards Main Street and the Davidson College campus, next to the historic AT&O/Southern Railway train depot. While many things have evolved in Davidson over the past century, notable landmarks of interest for our Town and nation’s history still lie scattered across Town, particularly within the original historic Westside/downtown area – residents and visitors just have to be curious and know where to look!
NOTES OF INTEREST:
• structure circled to Left (1900) is the Helper Hotel (later known as the Carolina Inn) – est. 1848 (original part), located on Main Street and also had drug stores operating out of it. Today owned by Davidson College for private use, the Helper Hotel is a Charlotte-Mecklenburg designated historic landmark and notable as the oldest hotel not only in Davidson but all of Mecklenburg County!
• structure circled to Right (2019) is the steeple for Davidson College Presbyterian Church (DCPC) – the original church was constructed in 1885, but the current main chapel/steeple was not built until 1952 (which is why the steeple isn’t visible in the circa 1900 photo)
• building on Right (1900) at corner of Depot/Main may be the home of D.H. Hill (Confederate war hero and Davidson College professor), later replaced by the Harris Building – which was recently acquired/renovated into the Davidson College Stores)
• tall building on near Right (2019) is the Davidson Village Inn, formerly site of Maxwell Chambers Hotel circa 1923 but that historic hotel was later razed in 1992 and replaced by the current building housing the Inn
• short buildings on near Right (2019) are one-story adjoining structures constructed circa 1920’s-1930’s that today house several local businesses, including IL Bosco Ristorante Italian restaurant
• note the horse/buggy and dirt roads (1900) – until the widespread introduction of the automobile (and even thereafter), many side streets thru-out Town remained unimproved thru mid-century. Even Main Street/115 thru downtown was dirt for many years before finally being paved earlier in the century
• note the formal attire (1900) of the children and adults of the era (perhaps this photo was taken on a Sunday when many Davidson residents including children might have been attending religious services?)