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Charlotte, North Carolina: 4 West Third St., 1930. Folding broadsheet printed in red and green, sheet size 21” x 28”, map size 9” x 13.25”. CONDITION: Very good, old folds, light wear to cover panels.

An unrecorded promotional broadsheet for the sale by auction of residential lots in Grove Park in Charlotte, North Carolina, with a plat map and illustrations of “the type of construction encountered on the way to the property” and advertising a “whites only” raffle, likely with the intent of discouraging Black participation in the auction.

In the center of one side of the sheet is a plat map showing Grove Park’s 225 numbered lots divided into ten subdivisions. This suburban development was located less than ten miles outside of the city of Charlotte and was close to a highway and an airport. The map includes both sold and unsold lots and several roads are shown leading to Grove Park. The text announces that Rodwell, Inc. will be selling by public auction, from May 27th to 29th 1930, all of the remaining lots to the highest bidders for whatever they will bring—“whether for five cents or ten thousand dollars.” As this broadsheet was produced during the Great Depression, it seems likely that the need to sell the remaining lots at auction was provoked by the economic downturn. The terms and the procedure of the sale, which was to be held on the premises, are spelled out. Promotional giveaways at the auction via raffle—restricted to “every white adult in the tent at the time”—included a cash prize of $1000 and a new 1930 model Chevrolet Coach (sold by Pyramid Motor Co. of Charlotte). 

Text on the other side describes Charlotte as “the most progressive city in the South” (clearly not a reference to race relations) which “each year sees a closer approximation to the great Northern business centers.” Grove Park is described as 

one of the most beautiful of the entire array of Charlotte’s suburbs. High, dry, partly rolling and beautifully wooded, it affords the prospective home owner so wide a diversification in types of homesites that every possible requirement should be satisfied…A twenty minute inspection of the property will convince you of its many advantages.

Photo-illustrations picture downtown Charlotte, a church, the Chevrolet Coach giveaway, attractive homes en route to Grove Park, and scenes of ongoing construction. A note addresses entrepreneurs and argues that it is smarter to invest in real estate than failure-prone business enterprises. Maps and further information could be obtained at the main office of Rodwell, Inc.

No copies of this broadsheet are recorded in OCLC, nor do Google searches yield any copies.

Item #7245

Price: $450.00