Local city information for Grover, NC

Grover is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 698 at the 2000 census.

Grover is a small, colorful railroad based town thriving off the North Carolina/South Carolina State Line just off of Interstate 85. Grover was once named Whitaker, North Carolina but was changed to Grover in honor of President Grover Cleveland. Grover is a welcome spot for travelers to typically eat and purchase inexpensive gasoline. It holds an antique look to it, especially on Gingerbread row (Cleveland Avenue - NC 216) where many homes are restored.

Grover is a railroad dominated town with train whistles and bells - started when the Atlanta Charlotte Airline Railway placed a turntable in the town for engines. They operated from the 1880s to the 1920s and Southern Railway (U.S.) continues to elate children and adults to this day (now known as Norfolk Southern). It was not uncommon to get mail several times per day in Grover - as the train stopped numerous times. Amtrak also operates on the line under permission and carries millions of people from the famed Atlanta station to Charlotte, Richmond and as far as New York City.

Grover is also home to international companies like Eaton, Commercial Vehicle Group, AGI and the Presidential Culinary Museum and Library. Hatcher Hughes lived and loved Grover and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for his Broadway Play, "Hell-Bent Fer Heaven."

The name of the County that Grover is a part of, is historic Cleveland County, North Carolina. The County is named after Colonel Benjamin Cleveland (Cleaveland - Thorkil de Cleveland of Cleveland County York, England in the year 1066) - famed of the Kings Mountain battle - a friend of Colonel Frederick Hambright (originally known correctly in Germany as Hambrecht) (with his son John by his side) during the Revolutionary war. In 1887, the Legislature voted to change the name of Grover's County to the more popular used English word version of, "Cleveland," from its previous version of Cleaveland. President Grover Cleveland had been in office since 1885 (the first Democrat elected after the American Civil War).

This portion of history bears explanation and how it affected local matters. A bachelor, Grover Cleveland was ill at ease at first with all the comforts of the White House. "I must go to dinner," he wrote a friend, "but I wish it was to eat a pickled herring a Swiss cheese and a chop at Louis' instead of the French stuff I shall find." He gained intense publicity and coverage. Naturally, a town chosen to name itself after him followed suite. In June 1886, this predicament would be fixed for Grover - and Grover. President Cleveland married 21-year-old Frances Folsom; he was the only President ever married in the White House. Again, this historic event and the ensuing honeymoon took on unprecedented news attention and mention - in the papers and magazines. The name change of Grover's county took on epic proportions, likewise, shortly after this event. The town, White House and county historically affected each other in an unplanned manner. In 1887, Cleaveland County held a referendum and vote to forever change its name to the more popular spelling of, "Cleveland." The latest mistaken report of this was verified (July 2008) with a letter delivered by the US Postal Service, from the White House Historical Society to The Inn of the Patriots, 301 Cleveland Avenue, Grover Cleveland, NC 28073. No such town by this name exists in America.

Cleveland Avenue (Route 226) runs right through Grover - parallel to Main Street. Many Hambrights (Hambrechts), Hamricks and Herndons lived on Cleveland Avenue. Today, the Shiloh Presbyterian Church (built in 1905) remains next to Doctor Alfred Hambright's (Hambrecht) home that he built after the Civil War. A statue was dedicated to Colonel Frederick Hambright (Hambrecht Prussian family) and Corporal Clyde Furman Horton on July 1, 2008 at 301 Cleveland Avenue, Grover, NC.

Many other prominent names dominate the makeup of Grover and are listed repeatedly in reference level books of the Cleveland County Library System, families like Herndon, Hambright (Hambrecht), Hamrick, Rountree, Keeter, Graham, Cleaveland, Cleveland, Scruggs and Goforth, to name only a few. Within the history of Grover - it is often confused with President Grover Cleveland versus Benjamin Cleveland and where the names came from. Although each Cleveland are related going back to Amos Cleveland of Massachusetts.

Grover is in the process of restoring itself to a more picturesque town of a turn-of-the-century look and feel. Its train and spinning, engine turntable, and history - will show strongly in that. The current Mayor is Mr. Robert Sides. The town historian is Doctor Cobia Goforth.

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