“Serving Cleveland County & Surrounding Areas”
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www.shelbyinfo.com Our 42ND Year • Issue No. 35 • August 28, 2025
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Coming Home: Earl Scruggs Center restores the Homeplace of a music legend Just outside Boiling Springs, near the Broad River, sits a weathered farmhouse that once rang with the sound of a young Earl Scruggs’ banjo. It was here that Scruggs grew up, worked with his family, and perfected the innovative three-finger picking style that changed American music forever. Now, the Earl Scruggs Center has purchased and begun restoring this special place—known simply as the Earl Scruggs Homeplace. “This farmhouse tells the story of Earl’s beginnings,” said Mary Beth Martin, Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center. “It was here that he experienced his famous ‘I Got It’ moment and developed the style that carried his name and Cleveland County’s story around the world. Preserving the Homeplace lets us share that history in a way that words alone cannot.” Scruggs lived in the house from 1933 to 1942 with his mother and siblings. Like many Cleveland County families of the era, they farmed the land to make ends meet. After high school, Earl took a job at Lily Mills in Shelby before leaving in 1945 to pursue music full-time—a decision that forever linked his name with American roots music. The purchase of the Homeplace was finalized in July 2024 with support from the North Carolina General Assembly, championed by Cleveland County’s legislative delegation in the Senate and House. In November, Preservation North Carolina placed permanent covenants on the property, ensuring its protection for generations. The restoration is being guided by Scruggs’ own memories and the community that shaped him. Earl’s descendants donated a handwritten notebook of recollections, which will help ensure authenticity. A team of Earl Scruggs Center board members and volunteers are also playing a key
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Earl Scruggs Homeplace in May, 2025. (Photos by Daniel Coston)
role. Local Eagle Scout Joshua Melton led his troop in clearing the property and salvaging materials for reuse, preparing the site for restoration. Since opening in 2014 in the heart of Shelby, the Earl Scruggs Center has welcomed visitors from around the world eager to learn more about Scruggs’ life and the region’s musical heritage. With the addition of the Homeplace, the Center will offer an even deeper connection to Earl’s story. “This is more than just restoring a building—it’s about honoring Earl’s roots and the community that shaped him,” Martin said. “When people walk
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through those doors, they’ll feel the connection between Cleveland County and the music that continues to inspire the world.” For now, the farmhouse remains an active restoration site, but the Earl Scruggs Center looks forward to the day when visitors can step inside and experience the place “where it all started.” Provided by Earl Scruggs Center
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