A Brief History of Mecklenburg County

Part III: Reconstruction Era

Cotton was not an easy crop to grow in Mecklenburg County. In fact, only 6,112 bales were ginned in 1860. However, after the discovery of the fertilizer, Peruvian guano, the production rapidly increased to 19,129 bales in 1880. The production of cotton peaked in 1910 with 27, 466 bales. Thus, between 1860 and 1880, the image, economy, and lifestyle of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County changed dramatically. These changes may be observed today in the large number of late nineteenth century farms. Replacing log construction and simple I-houses were fancier Folk Victorian dwellings inspired by the Queen Anne style popular in the United States at this time. Examples of this type of abode are the Ewart House near Huntersville, the James A. Blakeney House on Blakeney-Heath Road, and the J. M. Alexander House on Beatties Ford Road.

James A. Blakeney House

Even smaller cottages of this period would often receive decoration unheard of a few decades before. Double pile (two room deep) cottages with hip roofs may be found. Two story houses still tended to be of the I-house form, particularly the variety known as "triple A." This house would have a pediment over the central entry bay of the house. Often, wrap-around porches, and decorative elements were added to an older home in order to modernize it. Other two story houses exhibited a more modern form, however. Irregular plans were inspired by the Queen Anne style and often took the shape of an "L" or "T" in plan. The period between the close of the Civil War and 1910 was one of rapid development and change, and these characteristics are shown through the variety of farmhouses.

Despite the prosperous mood during the Reconstruction Era, the life of the Mecklenburg farmer was still challenging. Rural residents frequently depended upon other counties for manufactured goods, such as cooking utensils that were supplied primarily by Lincoln County. Meals of coffee, fried chicken, biscuits, sweet potatoes, hog jaw, turnip greens, and opossum with brandy for the wealthy and corn whiskey for others were common, according to local historian John Brevard Alexander. Cooking was done in heavy cast iron cookware over hot fireplace coals. Farm work was hard and time consuming. The production of cotton was still difficult even with fertilizers. Thus, the system of tenant farming that developed after the Civil War remained in place.

Former slaves, many having no money and nowhere to go, often decided to stay on former plantations and grow crops for the owner in return for a share of the crops. In 1910 and 1920 most farms in Mecklenburg County were operated by tenants rather than the owner. Two-thirds of the landowners were white, and one-third of the owners during this period were black. There was a significant number of white tenant farmers in addition to the black slave descendants.