Clyde Roark Hoey (1877-1954)
Bill of Sale
1909 Shelby Map Pt2
Interior of Princess Theatre
Courthouse and Fountain
Operating room at City Hall
Hotel Charles
Amzi Clarence Dixon
Cleveland County Post Offices
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Elizabeth Baptist Church on fire
Contact Us
Questions? Comments? Want to contribute materccarchive.orgclevelandcountyhistory.org
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 Ice Cream Cones in Shelby Were Made by Hand at a Carnival
The very first ice cream cones ever sold in Shelby appeared around 1906 or 1907 at a carnival tent set up where the post office later stood. These were not factory-made cones. They were made on the spot from batter cooked on a stove beside the ice cream freezer. While still warm, the cone was rolled up by hand into a cornucopia shape and the ice cream was placed inside. If you weren’t careful, the ice cream would drip straight out of the hole in the bottom of the cone. This was Shelby’s first introduction to eating ice cream in a cone instead of a dish.
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