Matthews in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
E.J. Funderburk General Merchandise Store
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 12, 2023
1. E.J. Funderburk General Merchandise Store Marker
contributes to the
Matthews Commercial
Historic District
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
1996
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1996.
Location. 35° 7.005′ N, 80° 43.31′ W. Marker is in Matthews, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. Marker is on North Trade Street south of Charles Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 159 N Trade St, Matthews NC 28105, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Funderburk Brothers Dry Goods Store (a few steps from this marker); Former U.S. Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Renfrow Hardware (within shouting distance of this marker); Heath and Reid General Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Grier-Rea House (approx. 3.2 miles away); Trading Path (approx. 4.1 miles away); In Memory of John Rea (approx. 4.2 miles away); John Flennegin (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Matthews.
Regarding E.J. Funderburk General Merchandise Store.
this page online
E. J. Funderburk General Merchandise Store. 159 N. Trade St., late 19th century. Ellison James Funderburk, the patriarch of the prominent mercantile Funderburk family, is believed to have started his retail enterprises in Matthews with the general merchandise business he established in this building. Its exact construction date remains unknown, but it certainly was between 1878, when he acquired the parcel, and 1898, when he sold it to his son. …
One of the most successful businessmen to establish himself near the depot in the town's early years was Ellison James Funderburk (1836-1916), who migrated soon after the end of the Civil War from South Carolina to eastern Mecklenburg County where he became a prosperous farmer. Funderburk purchased his first parcel of land in Matthews in 1878 and in the 1890s was joined by three of his five sons – Benjamin DeWitt Funderburk, Thomas Lee Funderburk, and Ellison Albertus Morgan Funderburk. By the turn of the century the Funderburks operated a complex of enterprises concentrated in brick buildings on the west side of the 100 block of North Trade Street, including a blacksmith ship and grist mill in a building facing an alley and a general merchandise store at 159 North Trade. A cotton gin stood just north of the tracks. The younger generation expanded their interestsbeginning with construction around 1901 of a livery stable immediately south of the Matthews Commercial Historic District and the dry goods store building at 157 North Trade Street. The latter project was undertaken by Benjamin DeWitt Funderburk, who had acquired his father's general merchandise store at 159 North Trade in 1898. He worked closely with his brother Thomas in establishing new enterprises, including the Bank of Matthews and a second dry goods store for which a two-story brick building was erected in 1909, also immediately south of the district. The third brother, Ellison Albertus Morgan Funderburk, was a cashier at the Bank of Matthews until his death in 1937.Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 12, 20232. E.J. Funderburk General Merchandise Store Marker
Also see . . .
1. Matthews Commercial Historic District (PDF). National Register nomination for the district, which was listed in 1996. (Prepared by Claudia R. Brown and Richard L. Mattson; via National Archives) (Submitted on December 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Funderburk Brothers Buildings. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission report on the E.J. Funderburk building and the adjacent Benjamin DeWitt Funderburk building. (Prepared by Dan L. Morrill and Nora M. Black, 1991) (Submitted on December 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 65 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
