Meck Dec Day is May 20. What in the world is Meck Dec Day?
If you’re in uptown today and hear a little cannon fire, don’t be alarmed. You’ve just stumbled onto a unique Charlotte historical celebration: Meck Dec Day.
celebrating #clt at #meckdecday
A photo posted by chelsea cote (@chelseadcote) on May 20, 2014 at 10:01am PDT
The history
May 20th marks the 240th anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which preceded the signing of the more famous Declaration of Independence by more than a year. (For the mathematically challenged among you, the Meck Dec was in 1775.)
The Mecklenburg Declaration was the first in all of the colonies to proclaim that people were “dissolving political bands which have connected us to the Mother country (Great Britain).”
The declaration was read publicly at noon on May 20 on the courthouse steps and was later carried by Militia Captain James Jack, by horseback, to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
(Read more about the declaration on the Mecklenburg Historical Association’s website.)
The declaration
How we celebrate
The celebration takes place at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets.
You’ll see 18th-century throwbacks start to gather around 11:30 a.m. and the official start time is 11:50 a.m.
Soldiers will march around with fife and drum. Members of the Mecklenburg Historical Association will hand out copies of the declaration.
May 20th Society’s celebration of Charlotte’s Independence Day (May 20, 1775) #meckdecday A photo posted by Wayfarer99 (@wayfarer99) on May 20, 2013 at 8:48am PDT
There’ll be patriotic speeches and Colonel Thomas Polk himself*, the founder of Charlotte, will read the declaration, followed by a series of toasts.
*Played by Jim Williams from the Mecklenburg Historical Association.
In case you’re unsure of how to respond to a toast, here’s a cheat sheet: “Huzzah!” This is when the muskets and cannons will be fired.
Meck Dec Day #tcebeauty #mycharlotte #meckdecday
A photo posted by Suzanne Langevin (@ssl81ym) on May 20, 2014 at 6:01pm PDT
Finally the celebrants will parade to Old Settlers’ Cemetery at Church and Fifth Streets to place a wreath on the grave of Thomas Polk.
The controversy
Detractors, starting with Thomas Jefferson, have claimed that there was no Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Historians have debated the authenticity ever since.
C5’s Take: Thomas Jefferson was just jealous because he wasn’t first.
Other Meck Dec sightings
-The Charlotte Liberty Walk has a marker for the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
-The Captain Jack Statue, part of the Trail of History, is on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway near uptown.
The Matheson Bridge Mural by William Puckett visually depicts the story of the Meck Dec. You’ll find it under the Matheson Street bridge over North Davidson Street.
Photos: T. Ortega Gaines/Charlotte Observer; Jody Mace; Mecklenburg Historical Association.
This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 1:13 AM with the headline "Meck Dec Day is May 20. What in the world is Meck Dec Day?."