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Merchants and Farmers National Bank Building

Merchants and Farmers National Bank Building: Italianate, National Register listed 1984-03-01.

Address123 E. Trade St., Charlotte
Architectural styleItalianate
National Registerref 84002344, listed 1984-03-01
Research depthdossier, independently sourced

What we established, and from where

  • The Merchants and Farmers National Bank Building at 123 E. Trade Street was listed on the National Register on 1 March 1984 and has been demolished. NPS records its style as Italianate, its architect as unknown, and significant years of 1871 and 1872 - making it among the oldest commercial buildings ever listed in Charlotte.

    documented National Park Service (NRHP) / NC State Historic Preservation Office · checked 2026-09-14

  • The remodelled ground-floor shopfront was probably installed around the time Belk's children's shoe shop moved into the building in 1953.

    independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-18

  • The building's third floor housed the Odd Fellows Hall and was the meeting place of Mecklenburg Declaration Lodge #9, IOOF, from 1875 until 1914.

    independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-18

  • The building served as the headquarters of the Merchants and Farmers National Bank from its completion in 1872 until 1921, when the bank moved to 5 West Trade Street.

    independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-18

  • At its 1984 listing, the building's iron trim, made by the Mecklenburg Iron Works, was believed to be the oldest surviving example of locally produced architectural ironwork.

    independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-18

  • From 1953 through 1972 the building was rented by Belk's Children's Shoes Annex.

    independent National Park Service / NC SHPO · checked 2026-09-18

The primary source

The National Register nomination is the fullest account of this property that exists, written by a researcher and reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office. The nomination (National Park Service).

Official record

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Where this comes up

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