The Victor Shaw House
$1,950,000 | 4805 sf | 5 BR | 5.2 BA | 0.41 acres
For those who cherish classic architecture, this is your opportunity to own the historic “Victor Shaw House ,“ located in Club Acres right by Charlotte Country Club and deep in the heart of Plaza-Midwood.
Subscribe to keep reading
Join 12,747 Charlotte tastemakers.
View this listing here
Renovations by the Salins Group will transform this home to meet the demands of modern living, while preserving the classic architectural features of the 1920’s. Enjoy a 50% tax exemption on the entire property value which is on the registry of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, whose goal is to preserve and replicate its historic integrity. You will be hard-pressed to find a lovelier setting so close to Uptown, in such a beautiful and vibrant neighborhood.
Mecklenburg Park Development
The historic property is the anchor for an exciting community-in-development called Mecklenburg Park. There will be 8 duplex style homes on the back of the property and two estate homes at the front.
Known as the Knowlton Cottages, the to-be-built 8 duplex homes surround a central green creating a perfect balance of privacy and neighborhood community.
$1,325,000 | 3081 sf | 4 BR | 4.1 BA |
Ben Collins of the Salins Group will construct each residence using classic exterior architectural features and modern interiors specifically designed for “right-sized” living.
View a listing here
At the heart of the home is the spacious great room that combines the cook’s kitchen and its walk-in pantry with the dining area and the spacious family room. From here, you walk out to the covered stone porch and its fireplace. The owners’ suite is a true retreat on the main level. The second level has a sizable landing that offers a large flex space. The three secondary bedrooms, each with walk-in closets have en-suite baths. New owners choose their high-end selections with the assistance of a designer.
For more info, view the brochure here or contact agent Lucy Butler today!
LUCY MOORE BUTLER
Realtor® / Broker in North Carolina
704.996.2423 cell phone
lbutler@cottinghamchalk.com
The History of this House and Development
A Brief History of the KNOWLTON-SHAW HOUSE and MECKLENBURG PARK
The stately Colonial Revival-style mansion that is known as the Knowlton-Shaw House was built in 1928 by James Wolcott Knowlton (1877-1978) and his wife, Marie Wheeler Knowlton (1893-1990). The Knowlton’s home on Mecklenburg Avenue was a place of elegance from the outset and the birthplace of a much gentler, family-focused life for James Knowlton who had spent his young adult life as a rough-and-tumble gold miner in Arizona. As a youth, James Knowlton was reared by his uncle, who served as the resident superintendent at Mt. Vernon, the plantation home of George Washington. It is believed that James’ love for traditional architecture and craftsmanship were formed by his time there.
Knowlton moved with his wife from West Virginia to Charlotte in 1923 and became a fuel engineer for Duke Power Company. A Princeton graduate, he was in charge of all coal purchases for electric generating plants. An early proponent of organic gardening, Knowlton most likely maintained a large vegetable garden. He was also an avid hiker.
Marie Knowlton was a student of interior design and she made the house a showplace where she enjoyed hosting wedding receptions, bridge parties, and book club meetings. Marie’s interests also included civic affairs. In 1939, when voters refused to fund the Charlotte Public Library, she headed a committee that gathered over 7,000 signatures on a petition to force a new election that reversed that decision. The Char- lotte Observer put her on a list of the eleven most outstanding civic leaders of 1939; no small accomplish- ment for a woman of that era. Marie Knowlton served a term as president of the Board of the Crittendon Home, a facility for unwed mothers and occupied a leadership position in what is now the United Way.
The Knowltons were devoted members of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Seventh Street. Hannah Knowlton, their daughter, married Thomas Wright in 1937, who later became the Episcopal Bishop of Eastern North Carolina. The Knowltons’ son, named after his maternal grandmother, had a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Victor Shaw (1888-1966) and his wife, Elsie B. Shaw (1894-1960), purchased the Knowlton-Shaw House in 1944. Shaw, a third generation Charlotte businessman, was elected mayor in 1949. Flamboyant, gregarious, and a natty dresser, Mayor Shaw belonged to a long line of Charlotte boosters. Shaw labored tirelessly to enrich the Queen’s City during his four years as Charlotte’s chief executive.
Mayor Shaw insisted that Charlotte must have a suitable civic auditorium and coliseum. Shaw made winning public support for this initiative a major goal of his administration. He was successful. In May 1950, the Charlotte Observer announced that architect A. G. Odell, Jr. would prepare plans for the buildings. The voters approved a $3 million bond issue on October 14, 1950, to buy a 21-acre site for the Charlotte Coliseum and Ovens Auditorium on East Independence Boulevard.
Shaw’s daughter, Elsie Babbitt Shaw (1929-2015), lived in the Knowlton-Shaw House as a teenager. She became an artist and sculptor of note and she is best known locally for her statue of Hugh McManaway, which stands in Charlotte at the intersection of Queens Road and Providence Road.
In December 2018, the owner of the Knowlton-Shaw House, announced his intention to demolish the structure, clear the site, and allow a cul de sac. The Historic Landmarks Commission was able to delay the destruction for one year.
In June 2019, Preserve Mecklenburg, a private, non-profit preservation agency, obtained an option to purchase the entire property or find a buyer. It succeeded in finding a purchaser. The help of Ben Collins of the Salins Group was invaluable. Ben was responsible for making the Terranova Group of Greenville, S.C. aware of the property. Terranova bought the Knowlton-Shaw House property in February 2020 and agreed to accept a preservation easement that will assure the preservation of the historic homeplace, so its stories will not be lost.
The Knowlton-Shaw House will become the centerpiece of a unique residential development called Mecklenburg Park with two ownership options: the Shaw Estates and the Knowlton Cottages. Designed under the watchful eye of the Preserve Mecklenburg historical society, Mecklenburg Park will complement the grandness of the surrounding neighborhood with traditional exterior elements and quality interior specifications while providing “right-sized” lifestyle floorplans.
Text adapted from a document prepared by Preserve Mecklenburg, courtesy of Terranova Group brochure.
