1616 Madison Avenue
This is one of a handful of houses scattered in McCrorey Heights that were spec-built by Ervin Construction, one of Charlotte’s biggest suburban builders during the three decades following World War II. Ervin took out the building permit on December 16, 1955; by 1957 the address was listed in the city directory as the home of William T. Reeder, a mail carrier for the Post Office, and his wife Mae D. Reeder. In the era of racial segregation, postal work was one of the few federal government jobs open to black Americans. Steady employment at a decent wage meant that postal workers ranked among the “middle class” in African American society. Nearly a dozen post office employees in addition to William Reeder were among the early residents of upscale suburban McCrorey Heights.
From the 1960s into at least the 1980s, this became the home of Theodore G. Stewart and his wife Sara J. Stewart. The 1981 city directory listed him as a schoolteacher at J.T. Williams Junior High.
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Architecture
Ranch style house, one-story in red-brick, on a corner lot. A low hip roof covers the main block of the house, including a front porch. A smaller hip covers the projecting front wing that holds the bedrooms. A adjacent to that wing
In 1967, owner Theodore G. Stewart took out a permit to have Mangie McQueen — prolific African American contractor and a McCrorey Heights neighbor — add a room and a carport at the rear of the dwelling. A close look reveals where the brickwork changes on the west side of the house adjacent to Creek Street.
Building permits
Madison 1616 permit
Date issued: December 16, 1955
Owner:
Contractor: Geo. D. Sanford Electrical Co.
Estimated cost: $720
Other permit info:
Madison 1616 permit
Date issued: June 8, 1967
Owner: Theodore G. Stewart
Contractor: Mangie McQueen
Estimated cost: $4,000
Other permit info: residence addition – 1 room & carport
Madison-1616-permit-c
Date issued: August 12, 1955
Owner: Erwin Construction Co.
Contractor: Erwin Const. Co.
Estimated cost:
Other permit info: to build residence
First appeared in city directory
1957 – William T. Reeder & Mae D.
He: Carrier, Post Office
She: No occupation listed
1981 city directory – Theodore G. Stewart & Sara J.
He: Teacher Williams Jr. High. She: No occupation listed