The house, positioned on a picturesque corner lot adjoining Reid Park, stands as a historic symbol of the Lincoln Park community and serves as the last remaining structure associated with Reid High School, named after the influential Professor Charles Jesse Bynum Reid. Just a ten-minute walk from the bustling Main Street, the area offers a variety of public amenities, dining establishments, and shopping opportunities.
Professor Charles Jesse Bynum Reid, born in 1879 in the village of Lowell in Gaston County, emerged as a prominent community figure. As one of eight children to Mag and John Reid, who were formerly enslaved, he pursued an education that culminated with his graduation from Lincoln Academy in Kings Mountain in 1904. He furthered his studies at Knoxville College in Tennessee, where he developed a strong passion for teaching.
Upon returning to Gaston County, Reid began his teaching career in Mount Holly, where he earned the affectionate title “Professor Reid” from locals. In 1918, at age 38, he married Maude Herndon, also a schoolteacher from Gaston County. They built a Craftsman bungalow in Belmont, where they raised their four children—Bernard, Helen, Horace, and Doris. Throughout their lives, Charles and Maude Reid dedicated themselves to community uplift, focusing on educational and ministerial efforts. Their home not only served as a personal residence but also as a beacon of community development and engagement.
Professor Reid’s dedication to education was not just limited to his own children. He played a pivotal role in establishing a school right next to their home. Initially known as the Reid School, it offered education through the 6th grade. As the needs of the community grew, so did the school, eventually serving grades 1 through 12 and being renamed Reid High School in 1932. Unfortunately, the school closed permanently in 1966, the same year the buildings were demolished, six years after Professor Reid’s death in 1940.
Today, the land where the school once stood has been transformed into a community park, serving as a vibrant reminder of the school’s importance to Belmont’s Black community. One of the park’s highlights is a sculpture titled “The Message,” which celebrates the legacy of the school.
Adjacent to this park, the Reid House remains a powerful symbol of the Reid family’s lasting influence on the community. Set on a rise overlooking the park, this story-and-a-half bungalow features a captivating wrap-around porch held up by distinctively crafted battered-post-on-brick pier supports, showcasing the quintessential elements of Craftsman architecture.
Inside the Reid House, you’re greeted with its warm, inviting character, highlighted by cozy fireplaces and a built-in china cabinet that adds a touch of elegance to the dining room. The house’s floor plan is pleasantly asymmetrical, with a parlor and dining room that flow into a kitchen at the rear on one side. On the other side, there’s a private office and a primary suite on the main level. Upstairs, three additional bedrooms offer versatile space, with potential to reconfigure them into two bedrooms sharing a Jack-and-Jill bathroom for added functionality.
Despite its charm, the Reid House requires significant restoration to preserve its many original features like windows, moldings, mantels, and built-in cabinetry. This comprehensive rehab will focus on maintaining these historical elements while updating essential areas like the kitchen and bathrooms to contemporary standards. The sale of the house comes with specific conditions, including protective covenants and a rehabilitation agreement, ensuring the property remains a well-cared-for monument to a significant part of local history.
