[ Itinerary ]
[ Tour Guide ]
[ Related Sites ]
[ ]
[ First National Bank Building ]
[ Walking Tour ]
[ Directions ]
[ Latta Arcade ]
[ Itinerary ]
[ Tour Guide ]
[ Related Sites ]
[ ]
[ Walking Tour ]
[ Directions ]
[ Latta Arcade ]
Skyscrapers are cultural totem poles. They dominate the landscape and
convey a sense of power and pride. That's one of the reasons that
Charlotte's business leaders like them so much. The Johnston Building
is named for Charles Worth Johnston. It was designed in the Neo
Classical style by New York City architect William Lee Stoddart and
opened in 1924.
The lavish elevator lobby is worth a visit. The Johnston Building is situated in the very heart of Charlotte's financial district. Elegant homes once occupied these lots, but they have long since given way to commercial development. Charles Worth Johnston was born in 1861 in neighboring Cabarrus County and entered the textile business soon after graduating from Davidson College. He moved to Charlotte in 1892 to become Secretary of the Highland Park Manufacturing Company.
He became president of the Highland Park mills in 1911 and went on to have a controlling interest in several other mills, including the Johnston Mill on North Davidson Street in Charlotte and the Anchor Mills in the North Mecklenburg County town of Huntersville.
The Charlotte Observer described Johnston as a "Titan among textile industrialists" at the time of his death in 1941. "His career and achievements memorialize the old-fashioned virtues of thrift, frugality, self-reliance Johnston Building and industry, the honorableness of hard work, the virtue of business honor and integrity," the newspaper proclaimed.
The Johnston Building now houses the Charlotte headquarters of United Carolina Bank.
Continue south on Tryon Street and cross Third Street. In the middle of the next block, at 316 South Tryon Street, is the Latta Arcade. Enter the building and walk to the glass-roofed arcade in the rear.
Directions
[ Top of Page ]
[ Itinerary ]
[ Tour Guide ]
[ Related Sites ]
[ ]
[ Walking Tour ]
[ Directions ]
[ Latta Arcade ]