The property at 511 North Church Street was acquired by Vinton Liddell in 1891 for a sum of $3,000. It was on this very plot that Mr. Liddell erected the residence that now stands, becoming the abode of the McNinch family for the majority of its existence.

Samuel Sylvanus McNinch (1867-1929), the first of four successive Sam McNinches, held the esteemed position of Mayor of Charlotte from 1905 to 1907. Notably, President William Howard Taft visited during his visit to Charlotte for the celebration of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1909.

A legacy of political engagement was ingrained in the McNinch family, with Franklin Alonzo McNinch (1841-1893), a veteran of the Civil War and Sam McNinch's father, setting the precedent. Serving 3 terms as Charlotte's chief of police and garnering respect as a trial justice for 15 years, he was a founding figure in the Pioneer Fire Company and later elected chief of the Volunteer Fire Department.

Following the passing of S.S. McNinch (Sam the First) in 1929, survived by 4 children, 1 of whom, Miss Mattie McNinch, remained unmarried and resided in the home until 1978. Ellen Davis then purchased the home and worked tirelessly to its restoration. She was a dynamic entrepreneur who operated several businesses. She ultimately opened the McNinch House Restaurant in 1989.

Embodying the authentic Queen Anne/Shingle architectural style, the Liddell-McNinch House garnered acclaim during the Fourth Ward Preliminary Survey conducted by the Mecklenburg County Landmarks Commission in March 1975. Deemed by participants as perhaps the quintessential representation of this style in North Carolina, it now proudly graces the National Historic Register. Adorned with shingles on the upper portion, clapboards below, and a meticulously patterned slate roof, its exterior features a harmonious fusion of towers, wings, gables, and inviting porches, topped with an elegant eyebrow window.

Inside, the craftsmanship is a testament to Victorian artistry, with intricate, richly molded woodwork adorning both levels of the residence. Under the guidance of the esteemed architect Mr. Karl Bitter, renowned for his work at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, many of these designs, including the exquisite, coffered ceiling in the Library, were replicated. The residence boasts 10 tiled fireplaces, with a distinctive 3-way fireplace serving as a focal point, connecting the foyer, library, and dining room, adding both warmth and architectural allure.