The Town of Belwood was incorporated on June 16, 1978. The charter established the town boundaries as a circle with a two-mile radius, with its center at the old school building in the community.
Belwood’s Beginnings
According to Frances Beam, a Belwood historian, the town of Belwood was once known as “Black Rock.” A post office was established there on April 1, 1873. In December of 1875, the Black Rock post office was moved to the land belonging to Capt. Lemuel Hoyle. Capt. Hoyle bought more land and built a store on it. At some point, he wrote the Post Master General requesting that the post office name be changed to “Belwood,” which meant “beautiful woods.” The official change took place on June 12, 1882.
Early Belwood businesses included a lumber company, sash and blind shop, blacksmith shop, shoe shop, sawmill, shingle mill, and cotton gin, all owned by William Horace Thompson. Mr. Thompson later moved his lumber company to Shelby. It was later sold to O. E. Ford.
Melvin P. Gantt was a Civil War veteran who owned several businesses in Belwood–a tannery, a harness shop, and a collar and saddle shop. He died in the infamous New Market (TN) train wreck of 1904.
Other business owners were C. A. Thompson, Bynum Towery, John Queen, Hugh Hoyle, F. W. Campbell, Will Porter, Atlas Tillman, Frank Dixon, the Best brothers, and Capt. Lemuel Hoyle.
Lemuel J. Hoyle was a captain in the Confederate Army, business man, and community leader.
Joseph Benjamin Ivey worked for Capt. Hoyle in his store. He later became the founder of the Ivey’s chain of department stores.
The Belwood Extension and Community Association has been in this community since it was founded in 1913 as the Tomato Canning Club. It has had other names over the years such as the Home Demonstration Club and the Homemakers Club.
Joe DePriest wrote a story about the Belwood Tomato Club for our Our State in 2017.
Belwood Schools
Before the arrival of graded schools, the Belwood area was home to small multi-grade schools such as Ledford, Little Zion, Kadish, Mull, Philbeck, Pleasant Hill, Richards, St. Peter’s, and Vance. The first school dedicated to college preparatory work was established by the Methodists as the Belwood Institute. (Note in the ad below Trinity College is mentioned; Trinity College was renamed Duke University in 1924.)
Belwood Churches
| church | date established |
| Kadesh Church | 1833 |
| Knob Creek Church | |
| Norman’s Grove Baptist Church | 1913 |
| St. Peter’s Methodist Church | 1843 |
Visit the “Churches” tab for additional information.
Unique to Belwood. . .
The Belwood Antique Tractor and Engine Festival is held each year in the month of September. The festival was the brain child of Don Dellinger and has been held annually since 1991. https://www.facebook.com/BelwoodAntiqueTractorEngineFestival
Belwood Mayors
Robert Decatur Warlick was Belwood’s first mayor. He served the town from 1978 to 1998. Obituary published by Stamey-Tyson Funeral Home.
Cleveland County History 