About us

The Melvin family donated 2.8 acres of land located behind Immanuel Lutheran Church west of the railroad tracks in the hamlet of Clay to the Clay Historical Association. With the vision to make this parcel of land into a Historical Park it was deeded to the Town of Clay to establish a joint venture in building the park.

The Don Sotherden family donated the former Cigarville Railroad Station to the Historical Association and with a grant obtained through Mike Bragman’s office we were able to move the station from the east side to the west side of the tracks. It now serves as a museum for visitors to view life as it was during the early years in Clay which at that time had a thriving tobacco industry.

The Association also acquired the Sellen-Weller barn that dates back to 1840 that was donated to us by the Melvin family. It was taken apart, moved and rebuilt in the Historical Park by members of the Association and the Town Highway Department through another grant. It also serves as a museum and has numerous artifacts relative to life in the early years of the town.

A replica of the first log cabin to be built in the Town of Clay was built through a series of grants received again through Mike Bragman’s office in 2005. It too serves as a museum and is furnished with items used in homes during that time period.

The last building added to the Historical Park through another grant is our Visitor Center, which has a kitchen, bathrooms and a meeting room.