Continuing on Blue Ridge (08/09/03)

Last updated 8/21/03                                                                                                                                     Russian Translation Here           


Along Blue Ridge one can find the Mabry Mill, which is the oldest stone mill still in operation today. Basically this means that they still use stone-upon-stone grinding to convert corn into cornmeal, which can then be used to make pancakes, muffins, and other baked goodies.
The waterwill was designed and built in the 19th century by some Ed Mabry, a self-taught inventor who started corn grinding and wood sawing operations at the mill and engineered some curious woodworking equipment. The first three pictures are glimpses of this wonderful place where rangers from the National Park Service, and other "oldtimers" who remember how things were done on the mill in the old days, are happy to share their wealth of knowledge about a bygone era in which farmers had to also be handimen and fix their own wagon wheels. We also did a couple of hikes which traversed creeks and waterfalls. Each day is filled with hiking and driving and plenty of good times...

Listening to the park rangers at Mabry Mill describe the lifestyle without electricty, gas, running water etc., I was reminded of my maternal grandmother's life-long appreciation for all such modern conveniences. Born in the early 1900s in rural Ukraine, she didn't get to see things like gas stoves and water taps until much later in life, so she never took them for granted. Not a day would pass without her saying "God bless the man who invented gas stoves" after putting a kettle to boil, or "God bless the man who invented water taps" when getting a glass of water. If those blessings of hers made it into God's ears, I'm sure every inventor in human history is sitting in heaven now, including Mr. Ed Mabry himself.

Pictures

Mabry Mill       Puneet attempting a smile       Daria showing Puneet how to smile       Bridge across a creek