Near Shelby in Cleveland County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Metcalfe Station

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

1. Metcalfe Station Marker

Inscription. Land, original buildings and boxcar given in loving memory of Quincy Hague Metcalfe by the Gene Metcalfe family.

From this site Mr. Q. H. Metcalfe supervised section crews for the Lawndale Railway and Industrial Company, 1899-1943.

Erected by Lawndale Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 35° 21.486′ N, 81° 34.308′ W. Marker is near Shelby, North Carolina, in Cleveland County. Marker is at the intersection of Polkville Road (State Highway 226) and Ramseur Church Road (State Highway 1811), on the right when traveling north on Polkville Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2240 Polkville Road, Shelby NC 28150, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. W. J. Cash (approx. 4.8 miles away); O. Max Gardner (approx. 4.8 miles away); Thomas Dixon, Jr. (approx. 4.8 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 4.8 miles away); Cleveland County Korean and Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 4.9 miles away); Cleveland County Civil War Monument (approx. 4.9 miles away); Cleveland County World War I Memorial

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 5 miles away); Bobby Bell (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shelby.

Regarding Metcalfe Station. Although the marker was placed by the historical society of the nearby town of Lawndale, the postal zip code for this location is Shelby, NC.

Also see . . . Lawndale Railway and Industrial Company. Click the more Lawndale button for further info on this site. (Submitted on October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Actual Metcalfe Station Brochure
Approximately five miles north of Shelby on Highway 226N sits the old Metcalfe Station. For most of the life of the Lawndale Railway and Industrial Company, the Metcalfe served as a stop between Lawndale and Shelby for the narrow gauge railway which ran from Lawndale through Double Shoals, down a portion of Highway 226 into Shelby. Quincy Hague Metcalfe supervised the section crews for the company which was in existence from 1899 to 1943. The railway served as a means for the Lawndale Mill to get supplies and to send supplies out to Shelby, NC. It also served

Metcalfe Station image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

2. Metcalfe Station

as a passenger train for those who might need a way to Shelby. The train was the foresight of Major Henry F. Schenck who brought textiles to a new height in Cleveland County and in North Carolina. A man before his time, not only was the railway begun, but the mill was moved to a site on First Broad River, and a telephone/telegraph system begun. Realizing that he needed employees to operate the mill, he built a village, leased out the houses to the mill workers and started a school for their children and families. Beginning in town, the school grew and within a few years, Major Schenck gave some land on a knoll to the South of Knob Creek, between the creek and the newly built mill to enlarge the school. Piedmont School began as a boarding school, becoming one of the leading schools in the State. Eventually day students came and in 1928, it became a NC public school.

The Lawndale Railway and Industrial Company operated the train and the mill and the town grew around it. As Quincy Hague Metcalfe supervised the section crews for the railway, he had some extra time on his hands and saw the need for a gas filling station to supply gas for the new automobiles people were buying. The old dirt roads began to be occupied by more cars and fewer horses, mules and wagons. The filling station was serviced with Texaco gasoline and the Texaco dealership provided the visible gas pumps

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

3. Metcalfe Station

and the Texaco sign. The original Texaco sign has been kept in the Metcalfe family and was donated back to the restoration project by Don Metcalfe. The shepherd hook sign post had gone to a person in the community and as time passed was ready to go on the auction block, but was caught in time and donated by Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Willis.

The original visible gas pump had gone with time, but an area visible gas pump from the A.L. "Oss" Spangler farm has been donated by Don Dedmon of Asphalt Paving, and restored. It will actually pump that 10 cent gas. Children of all ages may actually pump liquid free of charge as a demostration. The original boxcar sitting on the site sits on original Lawndale Dummy trucks(wheels) donated by Ralph Spangler. A narrow gauge train, the boxcar rests on original rails and on crossties cut to size from measurements of a remaining crosstie that escaped the passing of time.

— Submitted October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

4. Metcalfe Station

5. Metcalfe Station

Old photo of the station

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

6. Metcalfe Station

Old photo of the station during the 60's

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

7. Metcalfe Station Marker

A salute to the Lawndale Railway Crew This flagpole and flag is dedicated to the hard working people who built and ran the "Lawndale Dummy" This railway pioneered the commerce and industrial to and from upper Cleveland County
Graciously donated by BB&T Bank and Riverhill Monument Company

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

8. Oil Pump

Kerosene Pump image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

9. Kerosene Pump

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

10. Gas Pump

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

11. Rain Barrel

Metcalfe Station Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

12. Metcalfe Station Sign

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

13. Box Car

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

14. Box Car

Track Car Wheel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009

15. Track Car Wheel

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,824 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. submitted on October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.