Some early settlements and their history

Iron deposits and furnaces

The first Baptist church in the county was Sandy Run Baptist Church. Probably established in the 1780s

Song and video by Larry Simpson about Catherine Babington who was the only woman mason ever! She lived in Cleveland County and is buried in Sunset cemetery.

A brief story about Drury Dobbins.

Iron deposits and furnaces

1872 marked the arrival of the first railroad and this was the first engine. They were wood burners that started Shelby's growth. Farmers were hired to haul wood to platforms along the tracks where crewmen would transfer the wood to the engines tender.

Song and video by Larry Simpson about Catherine Babington who was the only woman mason ever! She lived in Cleveland County and is buried in Sunset cemetery.

Dr. Ben F. Dixon

Eskridge Livery was located at Marion and Morgan Streets by the railroad tracks. The second floor served as a hotel and boarding house for train passengers.

1880s photo of likely tourists at Cleveland Springs. The old Wilson house can be barely seen in the upper left corner. The L shaped wing was added in the late 1880s. This was the "Gay Nineties"

Dr. Ben F. Dixon

The story about the Second hotel at Cleveland Springs, the fire in 1907 and the lives lost.

Song and video by Larry Simpson about John A. Darwin and his plans to rebuild Cleveland Springs Hotel after the 1907 fire. Adding 18 hoes to the golf course and a clubhouse. He planted fruit trees there and designed a private restricted community adjoining the golf course. He cut roads and sold building lots and convinced Shelby to build a bridge and road to the property.

Shelby streets named after revolutionary war heros.

Few Slaves in Cleveland County

A detailed history of Cleveland Springs hotel and resort.

Why there are so many Baptists Churches in Cleveland County