1923 Postcard showing the new Cleveland Springs Hotel
Cleveland Springs Hotel Dining
Amzi Clarence Dixon
1890s Eskridge Livery
1916 Shelby Map Pt8
First Elizabeth School
Major R.F. Schenck
1916 Shelby Map Pt11
1896 Shelby Map
1921 SHelby Map Pt2
Contact Us
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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?
No Prohibition for the Pioneers
Mamie Jones wrote that the earliest settlers in what became Cleveland County had no prohibition laws and made their own alcoholic drinks from what was available. They produced wild grape wine, persimmon beer, locust beer, apple cider, clear beer from cedar berries, and even beer made from green stalks of Indian corn, which they “did bruise and boyle.”
She believed it did not take long for these settlers to let corn fully mature on the stalk and make a much stronger drink from the grain—what later came to be called corn likker. Jones adds that the pioneers later taught this process to the Indians.
Source: Mamie Jones.
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