CONCORD HISTORIC WALKING TOUR
Part 3

Historic Downtown

Concord, the seat of county government, was established in 1796. Support from the 4early textile industry is primarily responsible for the development of the wholesale and retail trade in the downtown district. This area saw tremendous growth in the late 1800's, when the street was completely lined with merchants from Cabarrus Avenue to Corbin Avenue. The owner's of Concord's businesses built stylish buildings, many of which can be seen today.

1. Cannon Building (Concord Theatre)
11-15 North Union Street - Various Offices

Joseph F. Cannon erected this three-story building containing offices and stores and a rear, two-story structure containing a theatre during the early 1920's. The arched passage at the center of the building originally provided access to the theatre from Union Street.


2. Concord National Bank and Hotel Building
2-14 North Union Street - First Charter National Bank

Constructed in 1925, this six-story structure of reinforced concrete construction was one of the largest commercial buildings built in Cabarrus County in that period. The style in Beaux Arts Classical Revival. The high first floor with tall arch windows is faced with ashlar limestone ornamented with classical motifs.

3. Doctor's Office
28 South Union Street - Shu Fixery

This small infil building was built in a narrow alley way sometime between 1911 and 1921 as a doctor's office. Pilasters frame the narrow storefront and terminate in decorative concrete crosses that may have been intended to symbolize the medical professional.

4. Dayvault Meats
35 South Union Street

This structure dates back to the Civil War when, in 1861, it served as a commissary or military market. Afterward, the store housed the Phifer Brothers' dry goods company. The Dayvault Grocery store was located here in the early 1900's. In 1995 the building underwent extensive renovations to uncover and restore the original storefront which was found under two facades. The current stucco facade matches the original color of the brick which could not be repaired.

5. Pythian Building
36-40 South Union Street - Various Shops

This three story, rusticated stone veneer building was built in 1902 by the Pythian Realty Company. Originally built to accommodate upper level offices and ground floor shops, the Ritchie Hardware Company occupied one of the stores for several decades. Five arched bays rise to the third level where windows are set in yellow colored, paneled brickwork. The corbels at the cornice in the center bay rise to form an open pavilion on the roof. The storefronts, though altered through the years, still posses many original features including broad, leaded glass transoms over the display windows.

6. Patterson Grocery
42-44 South Union Street
Suzi's Wigs and On Common Grounds

This building dates from about 1890 and has been restored in the past few years. The unaltered upper portion of the facade shows much of the original window trim and panels in addition to the wooden cornice and decorative sawn brackets. G.W. Patterson operated the grocery at this location during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

7. Cabarrus Bank and Trust Building
57 South Union Street

Built in 1923 at the same time as the Concord National Bank and Hotel Building previously noted, this building shares much of the same styling as that structure. As an important Beaux Arts classical Revival building, it is also clad in ashlar limestone at the first two levels. Above the second story cornice, yellow brick pilasters with Corinthian capitals rise to a broad frieze and a cornice trimmed with dentils and modillion blocks.

8. Historic Cabarrus County Courthouse
South Union at Means Ave.

The seat of local Government for nearly 100 years, the courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is Cabarrus County's pre-eminent historic and architectural landmark. The building designed harmoniously with Greek Revival, Italianate, and Second Empire styles is also one of North Carolina's finest examples of late nineteenth century public architecture. Designed by architect George S.H. Appleget, it was the second courthouse built after the first was destroyed by fire in 1875. Two additions including a three story rear wing are apparent today. It is the home of Historic Cabarrus Inc. and the interior houses many significant documents and artifacts from the area.

9. Memorial Garden
50 Spring Street S.W.

The three acres of Memorial Garden were originally purchased by the First Presbyterian Church in 1804 for construction of its first sanctuary in 1810.  When the church was moved from the site in 1874, the land was used as a cemetery and over the years, neglected, until Sally Phifer Williamson restored its beauty as a memorial to her mother in 1931. It is considered to be one of North Carolina's hidden treasures.

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Concord Downtown Development Corporation
30 Cabarrus Avenue W. - P.O. Box 62
Concord, NC 28026
704-784-4208 (Phone) - 704-784-2421 (Fax)


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