CHARLES (CHARLEY) LYMAN BATES SR. (1929-2020)

Bates was born in Elkin NC and went to high school in Spartanburg SC. He served in the Navy for two years then graduated from Clemson in Architecture in 1953. He served as Chief Designer for Wyatt C. Hedrick Company in Texas. Bates moved back to Charlotte in 1956 to work for Odell Associates on projects such as Ovens Auditorium, Goodyear Building, Garringer HS, Charlotte Coliseum, and most notably, the award-winning 1959 Holy Comforter Lutheran Church in Belmont NC, an astonishing small church, shown below.

Bates left Odell around 1966 and started his own office. In addition to architecture, he started doing hand renderings for other architects, a career direction he continued for 40 years in Hilton Head SC. He worked for a time at Sirrine. He was instrumental in the development of Hilton Head Island SC, including the Hyatt Hotel, Fire Station, Tom Fazio Golf Villas, and airport.

Year unknown - The Walter Klein House, Charlotte NC. Possibly Squirrel Hollow or Wood Valley.

Year unknown - Lakeside Acres development, 3 or 4 houses, 1930s style. Location unknown.

1956 - The Clyde (Cloudy) McLean House, Lakeside Drive off Providence Road, Charlotte NC. McLean was the local weatherman on WBTV. Featured in the Charlotte News, 7/4/1959. Address unknown, do you know where it is?

1958 - The Rebecca (Becky) and Harry C. Wolf Jr. House, 3821 Arborway, Charlotte NC. Designed while working for Odell. Harry Wolf III became one of North Carolina's most successful architects. Sold around 1977 to architect Tebee Hawkins and his wife Dorothy. Sold in 2001 to architect Matthew Benson and interior designer Barrie Benson, who designed an addition and renovation built by Advanced Renovations.

About 1958 - The Toni and Wyatt Lawson House, Charlotte NC. Across the lake from Bates' Glass House. Possibly sold to Ty Boyd, a TV announcer. Address unknown, do you know where it is?

About 1958 - The O'Hare House, Charlotte NC. Across the lake from his Glass house. Address unknown, do you know where it is?

About 1958 - Two more houses. Across the lake from his Glass house. Address unknown, do you know where they are?

1960 - The Charles L. and Jean Weber Bates Residence, aka Glass House, 9331 Providence Road, Charlotte NC. Inspired by the Glass House by Philip Johnson. The house was accidentally built on the property line with a neighbor. Sold in 1968 to Stacy E. Simmons, also an architect. As of 2021 still owned by Simmons. Bottom photo by Susan Meyer.

1960 - The Arthur and Louise Weber House, 9407 Providence Road, Charlotte NC. Designed for Bates' in-laws next door to his own house. He lobbied for the house, against a resistant spouse, and he died about a month after moving in. Sold in 1994 to Sara G. and Douglas A. Brackett. Photo by Susan Meyer.

1960 - The Craig Elrod House, 2626 Sharon Road, Charlotte NC. Built by Rex Wheatley. Featured in the Charlotte News, 10/8/1960. Sold in 2020 to Queen Charlotte Properties LLC who have a demolition permit as of August 2021.

1961 - The Sharon Arms Apartments, 4313-4325 Colwick Road, Charlotte NC. A 32-unit, 2- and 3-bedroom luxury apartment house. Built by Craven B. Helms Construction. Supervising architect, Conrad Taylor. Destroyed in 2013.

Curtis Residence

Lowden Residence

C. J. Jones Renovation

Boggs Residence

Whitton Residence

Barton Residence

Moore Residence

Larry Rogers Apartments

Holderness Residence

Kenan Residence

Gen. Charles Rich Residence

E. N. Gray Residence

General J. W. Dobson Residence

Cay Residence

Goodrich Residence

Kooman Residence

Grimwade Residence

McIntosh Remodeling

Adler Residence

C. J. Jones / Lipscomb House

Wheaton Residence

Doud Residence

Cole Residence

Ruhloff Residence

Bennett Residence

Gregory Residence

Gregory Residence 2

Judge Smith Residence

Alexander Turner Residence

P. C. Hyzer House

H. E. W. House

Wallace Residence

Bates Residence

Hall Residence

Chambers Residence

Welpott Residence

Tyner-Miller Residence

Ulmer Residence

Scott Residence

Stanley Residence

Boltz Residence

J. C. Cuppia Residence

Cay Residence

Lowgren Residence

Myerly Residence

Key Residence

Donovan Residence

Fries Residence

Swain Residence

White Residence

Haines Residence

Peterson Residence

Sebring Residence

Irby Residence

Gladys Gregory Remodel

Allen Palmer Residence

Keller Residence

Gregory Residence

Smith Residence

Strange Residence

A. H. Englehardt Garden Wall

Jones Residence

Robert C. Omorato Residence

Soowal Residence

Bates Ranch House

Year unknown - The A. A. Friedman Residence. Address unknown, do you know where it is?

1966 - The Winston (Win) and Mel Sharples Residence, Port Royal Plantation, Hilton Head Island SC.

1967 - The Thomas Wamsley Residence. Address unknown, do you know where it is?

1968 - The Orion D. and Elisha Hack House, Hilton Head Island SC. Port Roya area. Built by C. J. Jones.

1969 - The Peter LaMotte House, 9 Wing Shell Lane, Hilton Head Island SC. Built by John Tilton.

1972 - The Charles and Jean Bates House, 9 Armada Drive, Hilton Head Island SC.

1986 - The George Spaulding House, 33 Surfsong Road, Kiawah Island SC. Sold in 1991 to G. Frank Judisch. Sold in 2010 to William J. Duggan. Sold in 2015 to 33 Surfsong K&L LLC.

Sources include: Harry Wolf; Charles Bates; daughter Jamie Adair; Stacy Simmons.