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[ Latta Arcade ]
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[ St. Peter's Roman Catholic ]
[ Itinerary ]
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[ Walking Tour ]
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[ St. Peter's Roman Catholic ]
You have now entered Second Ward, the last of Charlotte's original four
wards. All were established as voting districts in 1869. Here along
Tryon Street commercial buildings have again replaced what was once a
fashionable residential neighborhood for whites.
In 1917, Louis G.
Ratcliffe, a native of Henrico County, Virginia, opened a florist shop
next to the Latta Arcade.
After military service during World War I, he returned to Charlotte and was a civic leader in this community for more than 50 years. He died in 1961. So successful was Ratcliffe at supplying flowers for weddings, funerals and other special occasions that he decided to erect his own building. In 1929, he hired architect William H. Peeps to design the new home for Ratcliffe Flowers. Of course, Ratcliffe was familiar with Mr. Peeps's talents, because the same architect had designed the Latta Arcade for Edward Dilworth Latta.
The Ratcliffe Flower Building is an almost whimsical expression of Mediterranean motifs. No doubt the front bay window was used to display the wonderful flower arrangements that Louis Ratcliffe could supply for seemingly every occasion. In those days store windows were essential, because folks used to walk along the sidewalks instead of meandering through air-conditioned overstreet walkways.
Ratcliffe Florists moved elsewhere in 1983, but its sign remains because the building is a local historic landmark. A restaurant now occupies the space. Go in and ask to sit at the table in the window. You might even look like a flower.
Continue south on Tryon Street, cross First Street, and stop in front of the church on the corner.
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