Clyde R. Hoey
1907 Courthouse monument view
Main Street in Lawndale
Interior of Princess Theatre
Suttles's Potato House
1868 Map of Cleveland County
1921 SHelby Map Pt4
1916 Shelby Map Pt3
Cleveland Springs Hotel grounds
1775 Henry Mouzon Map
Contact Us
Questions? Comments? Want to contribute? Contact us at:
We welcome contributions of photographs, documents, and stories related to Cleveland County history.
Welcome
Welcome to the Cleveland County History Project! Step back in time and discover the people, places, and stories that shaped our county. From the early settlers before 1841 through the Golden Age of the 1920s, our history comes alive here. Whether you're researching family roots, exploring local landmarks, or just curious about the past, you'll find something meaningful in these pages.
Did You Know?
The First Coca-Cola in Shelby Was Served Before Ice Cream
Before Shelby ever had ice cream cones or even regular bottled sodas, the first Coca-Cola was sold in the early 1890s at the Kendrick & Kendall drugstore, located where Messick’s later stood. The drink was not bottled at all but purchased in five-gallon cans and served over imported ice. Even earlier than Coke, the same store served a dessert called “pineapple snow,” made by shaving ice into a custard mixture. So Shelby’s introduction to Coca-Cola actually came through its earliest experiments with artificial ice.
Features
- Browse by category: Towns, Institutions, Businesses, Hotels, People, and more
- Search by tags and categories
- Historical eras: Pre-1841 through the Golden Age (1900-1930)
- Full-screen zoom viewer: Click any image to pan and zoom in detail
- High-resolution images available for most items
- Detailed descriptions and historical context
- Designed to be approachable, not intimidating like traditional archives
Announcements
- January 2026: Project launched with initial collection
- We're actively seeking contributions from community members
- Check back for new additions