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
