From the late 1800’s well into the 20th century, Shelby was a bustling hub of business and commerce. Shelby’s wide streets were lined with store fronts of every description. Above is a 1950’s photo of Pate Brothers Mercantile, which was founded by G. W. Pate. The store was still in operaton at this time, though Shelby’s golden era had long passed. This photo shows one of three different businesses that occupied this large building.
