Davidson in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Joseph Knox Building, 1922
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 9, 2026
1. Joseph Knox Building Marker
Site: Cranford Gen. Store 1898
Johnson's Barber Shop 1924-1966
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 35° 29.912′ N, 80° 50.934′ W. Marker is in Davidson, North Carolina, in Mecklenburg County. It is on South Main Street (North Carolina Route 115) south of Concord Road, on the right when traveling south. The marker is at ground level located near Fifth Third Bank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 South Main Street, Davidson NC 28036, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont and in Greater Charlotte. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Davidson 1901 Fire (within shouting distance of this marker); Davidson Town Well (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chairman Blake House (about 300 feet away); Davidson Veterans Monument (about 400 feet away); X-Ray Experiments (about 700 feet away); Helper Hotel (about 800 feet away); Davidson College (approx. 0.2 miles away); With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited, 2025 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Davidson.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Davidson College (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
this page online
Regarding Joseph Knox Building, 1922. Excerpts from the Davidson Historic District Nomination Form:
(Pg. 62)
Knox Building
116-124 South Main Street, ca. 1922, Contributing Building
Two story, brick commercial building with twelve-bay upper level; replacement one-over-one windows;
modernized lower level has four reconfigured storefronts; recessed name panels survive on upper level; Main
Street's largest commercial building was erected for businessman Frank Knox.
(Pp 107-108)
One of the town's most prominent and civic-minded African Americans was Ralph Johnson. Johnson
operated a Main Street barber shop (traditionally an African American occupation) between 1921 and 1971 and financed well-constructed houses in the black section of Davidson.
Also see . . . Davidson Historic District Nomination Form. Form prepared by Richard Mattson and Frances P. Alexander, Mattson, Alexander and Associates, Inc., December 1, 2008 (Submitted on May 12, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Photographed by Mark Parker, May 9, 2026
2. Joseph Knox Building, 1922 Marker at bottom of the photo in front of adjacent buildings
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 12, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
