Belwood
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. The town was not incorporated until 1978.
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.
Scenes of Belwood
Story about the Belwood Tomato Club in Our State; by Joe DePriest.
Belwood Schools
Casar
According to Casar historian, Andy Pruett, the first settlers to the area that is now Casar, arrived about 1802. They were Benjamin Newton, Ebenezer Newton, George Newton, and Peter Lewis.
The small community was incorporated as “Race Path” in 1890. Just four years later, the name was changed to “Caesar.” The intent had been for the town to be named for Julius Caesar, but it was misspelled “Casar” by a postal clerk in the nation’s capital. It wasn’t until 1973 the spelling of the name was officially changed to Casar.
Early Casar businessmen were John Jones and Hassie Fortenberry and his three sons, Frank, David, and Will. F. S. Royster and S. S. Royster also started in Casar but later moved to Shelby. F. S. Royster became the first superintendent of Cleveland County Schools.
Casar’s first doctor (c. 1900) was Dr. J. F. Hunt; first dentist followed in 1909–Dr. C. M. Peeler.
Casar Schools
| Additional Information about Casar, NC |
| Casar, NC Wikipedia entry |
| Casar Elementary School |
Cleveland County History 