When I was 8 years old, my friends and I finished a portion of an unfinished family crawlspace: carpet on the soil, nicely lit by an extension cord with a bare bulb. I remember it fondly. But I wouldn't reproduce it.

Photos would help. I’m confused if you are trying to fix the crawl space (don’t) or replace the floor above it (do)

I added some photos. so there were 3 layers of linoleum and carpet padding which i removed to expose original boards that are nailed to joists. Underneath im assuming is a foot or two and then dirt? I'd like to put some kind of floor down so that the room is more presentable and can be cleaned.

Well this probably is the flooring, or what was the flooring anyhow. Likely could have been painted originally or had a bleached finish. By the turn of the century it would have been covered with linoleum. Cheapest option would get a wood flooring professional in to refinish it- old heart pine is very expensive and sought after in most regions. If you want a ‘modern’ floor you will probably need to install a new subfloor over this or remove all of this then install the new subfloor. Then any finished floor you want.

Maybe they do things differently in Dixie. But elsewhere, you pour a concrete floor first!