Old Cleveland County Courthouse

The old courthouse on the square in Shelby, NC

I went uptown in Shelby the other day and wandered around the square reminiscing about growing up in Cleveland County.  The old courthouse has been replaced by a new one and is destined to become the Earl Scruggs Museum.

The courthouse is being renovated to become the Earl Scruggs Museum.

Drawing on the region's rich history and music the Scruggs Center will enlighten, educate and celebrate the people, traditions and values of Cleveland County and the region and honor native son and music legend Earl Scruggs.

Earl Scruggs with banjo.

Earl Scruggs was born near Boiling Springs, NC and grew up in Cleveland County.  Scruggs is noted for perfecting and popularizing a 3-finger banjo-picking style (now called Scruggs style) that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music.

In 1953, the small building on the square just east of the courthouse was the DMV office.  That's where I first got my driver's license.  The only thing I remember was that I had to parallel park on the street in front of the Central Methodist Church. 

In the 1950s, this was the driver's license office.  Appears to be vacant now.

Central United Methodist  Church east of the courthouse.