July 09, 2008
History of Eastover
Prior to its conception in 1927, the neighborhood of Eastover consisted of two large dairy farms owned by Mc D. Watkins and Miss Cora Vail. Prominent Charlotte developer E.C. Griffith purchased the land from these two owners, dreaming of a suburban neighborhood that would rival Myers Park. Griffith teamed up with city planner Earle Sumner Draper, who had assisted John Nolen in the design of Myers Park, and began to heavily promote Eastover to members of the Charlotte elite. In one of his brochures, Griffith wrote:
“Home is far more than four walls and a roof top that protects us from the weather. It is the shrine of family life which will cluster the fondest memories after years. In the selection of your future home and your children's, the choosing of an ideal community is the most important step.”
Highly successful in this undertaking, Griffith watched as Eastover properties sold to many bankers, cotton brokers, city officials, lawyers and other influential Charlotteans.
One aspect that differentiated Eastover from Myers Park was that it was designed exclusively for residents with automobiles. While Myers Park featured convenient trolley access, Eastover’s trolley stops were several blocks away from the main gates, and its residents were expected to drive to and from their homes. The first residences in Eastover were built in 1928, in the initial Griffith subdivision which remains as the centerpiece of the neighborhood today. In just four short years, 42 residences were added along Cherokee Road, Colville Road, Eastover Road, Fenton Place and Hempstead Place. E.C. Griffith’s personal home, designed by architect Martin Boyer and built in 1929 on Eastover Road, still stands today finely preserved as a place of residence.
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