Is this where E. L. Moore's S. Tryon photography studio was located?

Image sourced from The Vault at The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

A few weeks ago when I was trying to figure out what Gemini knew about E. L. Moore at one point I asked it for suggestions for 'new' E. L. Moore model buildings. All were variations on previous projects except for one: a model of his photography studio on S. Tryon in Charlotte, North Carolina. I liked that suggestion.

You may recall that a few years back I tried to find all the locations of his photography studios in Charlotte from 1933 to 1963. This was a detailed follow-on to some half-hearted investigations I started in 2017 and 2020. From 1937 to 1946 (or 1947, the historical record isn't clear on the exact date) his studio was located at 114 1/2 S. Tryon, Charlotte, North Carolina. 

I knew of that location in 2017, but didn't know how long Mr. Moore was located there. I even found a building at 114 S. Tryon with Google Street Views that looked promising as it had an old look to it. I could have stopped there and simply went with the idea that his studio was a unit in that building; however, Gemini gave me some suggestions of where to look for historical photographs so I could dig further. I looked through those suggestions, and although I couldn't find a specific photo for 114 1/2 S. Tryon, I did find what seemed like an older version of the building that was standing at 114 where today's incarnation is located.

Let me back up a bit.

Ok, according to Google Street Views, here's what's at 114 S. Tryon today:

114 S. Tryon from Google Street Views

Here's the building to the right of 114, 112:

112 S. Tryon (First National Bank Building) from Google Street Views

Apparently the building is rather famous in Charlotte. This is the First National Bank Building that opened in 1927 (two years before the beginning of The Great Depression). For many years it was the tallest building in Charlotte at 22 storeys. Over the years it has had several names and owners: First National Bank Building, Liberty Life Building, The Baugh Buildings, and Tryon Plaza. It has a fantastic and unmistakeable facade. So, if you take another look at the image that began this post you can see that tall building is the First National Bank Building. I don't know when that photo was taken, but from the look of the automobiles I'd guess the late 1920s or early 1930s.

Ok, so it seems E. L. Moore's studio was more-or-less right beside this Charlotte landmark. I went looking for historic photos of that bank building hoping I'd catch a glimpse of 114 or 114 1/2 S. Tryon. Findings so far have been sparse. Other than this post's lead photo I found this tinted postcard image:

A postcard of the First National Bank Building sourced from Hip Postcard

I'll assume the image is an accurate representation of nearby buildings, but keep in mind that maybe artistic license has been generously applied. The website from which this image was sourced states the date on the postcard is 1936. Whether or not the image was created then is unclear, but let's say it represents the building from the late 1920s to the early to mid 1930s, just before E. L. Moore's studio opened on S. Tryon.

Although we only see a sliver of 114 in the opening photo, what we can make out does generally correspond to the postcard representation: there are 3 columns of windows, a lone centre window at the top (maybe flanked by two thinner ones, it's not quite clear), and an awning over the street.

Was 114 1/2 a unit in that building? Or maybe 114 1/2 was a separate building squeezed between 114 and a neighbouring building? Of maybe 114 1/2 was a building behind 114? Or maybe something else? I can't say which is correct. My money is on it being rentable space in 114, although I have no supporting evidence.

Also, I think the current version we see on Google Street Views is a renovation of the original 3 columns of windows structure. Instead of those columns of discrete windows, the building has been modified so that the far left and right window columns are each just very tall, undivided windows. The middle column has been replaced by a grand entrance with a small top window to cap it. So, the three window columns built into the original structure are still there, but have been stylistically modified. There's another difference: the new building is shorter than the one in the historical images. The old building appears to rise to the top of the bank building's facade, but the new one is a bit shorter. Maybe the upper floor was lopped off during a renovation? I'd have to dig into the architectural history of the street to know for sure.

What about to the left of 114?

Google Street View image of 128 S. Tryon on left and 114 S. Tryon on right.

That restaurant named MOA is at 128 S. Tryon in the First Citizens Plaza Complex. So, if there was a separate building at 114 1/2, it's long gone.

After this extended journey I still don't have an answer to what 114 1/2 S. Tryon looked like, or where exactly it was located, but I think I'm closer, and I think I have a little bit more information about the scene at the time E. L. Moore was there. 

I'm wondering if Mr. Moore ever built a model based on the building he worked in on Tryon much like he did with the Clarabel Hotel. I don't see any similarities in his known models. 

To close, I asked Gemini to make as realistic an image as it could of the glimpse of 114 S. Tyron shown in the postcard. This is what it produced:

It's a bit underwhelming, and needs considerable work, but maybe after some Moorian refinement it could be that 'new' E. L. Moore model I asked Gemini about earlier in the month.