About Us
Truly, the age, size, history, architecture, artisan workmanship and craftsmanship of the Belk Mansion put the house seemingly in a class of its own among Union County residences. The Belks were world travelers and incorporated ideas from around the world into their home. The home has the style of Moorish, Scottish and Victorian. The mansion provided insight into the lifestyle of businessmen who grew in prosperity with the New South. The wealth of detailing and quality of construction speak for themselves.
History –
Dr. John Montgomery Belk acquired the land on 9-28-1901. The house was built in 1903. When he died in 1928, he gave the house to his daughter Mabel and any unmarried daughters. When Mabel died on 4-4-50, she gave the home to her only child Sara who was still a student in Salem College in Winston at the time. Sarah gave the home to Trinity Presbyterian Church in June 1954 and the church gave it to Henderson Belk Foundation on 12-19-1955. The Belk Foundation gave it to the Union County for $100.00 on 10-10-1957. From October 1957 to April 1972, the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Commission, the Board of Education, the Red Cross, the Social Security, the Veteran Service all established offices in the premise and the Historical Museum was also here. In April 1972 prominent developer Leroy Rushing owned the place for a few months. On 9-22-1972 Morgan Foster became the first private owner of the home. He used the garage as his insurance office. On 4-22-1995, the home was auctioned to David and Donna Barnhardt. They moved in on 7-28-95. In December 1997 Jeff and Beverly Breeze became the next owner. They stayed there for around 8 years and on 3-27-2007, the mansion was sold to Cliff and Rose Chin, the recent owners of the home.
According to Sara Dew Misner, daughter of Mabel Belk, the home was just a happy family house. They would always have a house full at Christmas time. All the daughters and their families would come home. All the other times, the daughters had friends over to play. The home had seen the birth of Dr. Belk’s 2 youngest daughters, Henry and John Elizabeth Belk, the wedding of Sadie and Hallie Mae and the death of both Mrs. and Dr. Belk and their daughter Mabel.
Belk Family History –
The Belk family are descendants of English and Scottish-Irish settlers who arrived in the 18th Century. They lived in the Lancaster County portion of the Waxhaws. The brothers were born and raised in ‘Waxhaw County’. The family moved to Monroe in 1873. John was 9 years old.
Monroe is the Home and Birthplace of Belk Stores.
William Henry opened the first Belk store on 5-29-1988, originally called New York Racket. John, after graduated from Davidson College and received a Medical degree from NYU was practicing medicine in Morven, Anson County. In 1891 he gave up his medical practice and joined William Henry and the store became “W.H.Belk & Bro”.
It is the mother store of the Belk Organization. William Henry referred Monroe as the parent store, often quoting ‘ that’s where we got our start, brother John and myself. Everything grew out of the Monroe store’.
Their second store was in Chester, SC. Third one in Union, SC. On 9-25-1895, they built the 4th store in Charlotte, NC and changed the corporate name into Belk Brothers. William Henry managed the one in Charlotte and John in Monroe. They often exchanged places and played an active roles in chain operation. Their success was not due to ‘good luck’, but to a combination of hard work, initiative, Christian principles and love of family and community.
Dr. Belk had a patient temperament and an executive ability to train men.
The Monroe store was the recruiting station and training school for many top executives for future Belk Organization.
William Henry Belk had great innovative business ability and was a genius of merchandizing.
Together, they built a mercantile ‘empire’ in the Belk Corporation and both were referred as ‘merchant prince’.
William Henry Belk, one of the great merchants of his era, was a man of vision, integrity and firm religious faith. He was described as mild-mannered and soft-spoken, with the courage of a lion and the gentleness of a lady. He possessed a sharp business acumen and an indomitable spirit but led a humble and devoted life to his family and friends. He was an honored elder at his church, the Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church of Charlotte and a member of the Board of Trustees at Davidson College. His philanthropies were too many to number. He had given contributions to the building of hundreds of churches over the whole south, the support of educational institutions such as Davidson and Queen's College, the erection of a 7-story building at Presbyterian Hospital, the funding of Presbyterian Junior College and the financial assistance to the program at Montreat. Many felt a deep sense of loss upon his death on February 21, 1952.
Dr. John Belk was a kind and gentle but firm man, a devoted family man and a man of fine business habits with a very orderly and excellent mind. He was a philanthropist, a public benefactor and a many times millionaire. He was one of the Monroe best and most public spirited citizens. He was active in the community upbuilding of Monroe and Union County in civic, humanitarian, social and financial ways. He was an elder at First Presbyterian Church for 35 years, a school trustee for 25 years and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was instrumental in the founding of Ellen Fitzgerald Hospital, now Ellen Fitzgerald senior Center, next door.
Dr. Belk died of a heart attack on March 21 1928. During his funeral hours, many places of business and the 38 Belk stores closed and the public schools dismissed at noon in honor of him.
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.”
Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD.”
Psalms 40:3
