The Blue Ridge Mountain Mill

The Mabry Mill
The Mabry Mill

“Down on the old mill stream” goes the song of long ago. A really great treat is to visit an old mill, such as the old Mabry Mill. It’s right on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, and looks like a perfect Currier and Ives painting. At the turn of the past century these mills served the community by providing lumber for building and grind stones to turn the settlers’ grains in flour.

The mill, which has been wonderfully cared for, is an excellent example of craftsmanship. It is now looked after by the Park Service. Outside, there is a large waterwheel fed by a small stream that is carried for a long distance in a wooden sluice. In front of the mill is a small pond that gives perfect reflections of the mill.

The log saw
Log saw

Inside you will find the saw and carriage, where the logs were turned into boards, square timbers, and other framing material. The saw is cut from a sheet of steel, made circular, and then the teeth of the saw created by cutting into the circle. It’s a pretty good looking saw and probably created locally.

Part of the wood working equipment allowed a skilled craftsman to turn out articles produced on the wood lathe, and other objects required by the farmers.

Reflections in the pool
Reflections in the pool.

You might also see the mill grinding grain into flour, something that in the early part of the century would have been a regular operation. Wagons and teams would have stopped by the open loading area to off load several bags of grain while others would be picking up their bags of flour. Stone ground flour is sold here in the summer, although the flour is ground in another mill.

A High Wheeled Log Hauler.
A High Wheeled Log Hauler

Step over to the nearby blacksmith building to see how the early settlement created many of its metal products right on site. Outside you will see a two wheeled cart with high wheels showing how horses could drag logs from the woods. Along the highway there is a fine example of the old split rail snake fence.

The Mabry Mill is a great place to stop for photography too. Between exploring and taking pictures you are sure to spend a few enjoyable hours.

Happy RVing

For more than four decades James Stoness has travelled the roads of North America, photographing and writing about what he has seen. His travel articles and beautiful pictures have been published in several magazines and newspapers. He is also the author of five western novels.  Visit his website at:  www.stonesstravelguides.com

The Music of the Blazin’ M Ranch Packs ‘Em In.

Those of you who have spent an evening at the Chuckwagon Supper and Western Music Stage Show in Cottonwood, Arizona,  will vouch for the high quality of the entertainment, great music and a terrific supper.

Otis on stage

Their location seems a little strange for such an eclectic show but it grew there out of necessity. In the 1800’s there was a farm in this location. Later it was operated by Chuck Maybery. In 1993, the Verde River flooded, carrying away much of the agricultural land Chuck was using to grow vegetables for sale. They toyed with the idea of opening a Chuckwagon Dinner Theatre, and then proceeded to put the plan into action, opening in 1994. Their venue was a great meal followed by Western music and cowboy comedy. The result has been spectacular, and features constant change while keeping the original idea of good food, family fun, and simplicity.

The Livery

The supper and show take place in the great hall, a large building with pine tables and seats. When the supper bell calls, you are given instructions on how to wind your way through the kitchen where your plate is filled at several stations with good old chicken, or ribs, cowboy beans, a great salad, and flying biscuits (watch out for these). Top this off with a homemade apple crisp with ice cream.

Then, you are treated to the show. I’ve been there several times  and I’ve never been disappointed. The musicians change from time to time, but the high quality of the western music continues uninterrupted.

The Old Town
The Old Town

Over the years the family has built up quite a lively frontier town that provides ample opportunity for families to get in some exercise and some unique shopping. Although the buildings resemble old tyme buildings on the outside you will be pleasantly surprised at the shopping opportunities on the inside.

Of course all buildings are not for shopping. At the shooting gallery you can try your luck with a Colt 45 six-gun and see if the targets stand up to the punishment of the wax bullets… assuming you can hit the target. You might be tossed into the small jail so pictures can be taken of the new prisoner. Maybe you think you can rope a steer from a stationary horse.

The Blazin' M Stage
The Blazin’ M Stage
White Turkey
White Turkey

For a pleasant zoo adventure take a walk past the cages of geese, goats, donkeys, and peacocks. If it’s the beginning of October, you might find the turkeys just a little nervous, after all Thanksgiving Day is imminent, and they might wonder at your intentions.

The Mabery Museum highlights the life of Chuck Maybery, along with some other family members who have helped make the Blazin’ M such a superb place to visit.

While you are strolling you must visit the Wood’n West Gallery and see the wonderful display of Animated Wood Carvings. This collection of lifelike figures shows various aspects of pioneer life. It took 30 years for the carver, Jack Britt, to complete the task.

The Blazin’  M Ranch is located north of Phoenix near the Village of Cottonwood on the Verde River.

A Rainbow over the Blazin' M Ranch
A Rainbow over the Blazin’ M Ranch

For more than four decades James Stoness has travelled the roads of North America, photographing and writing about what he has seen. His travel articles and beautiful pictures have been published in several magazines and newspapers. He is also the author of five western novels.

The Blazin’ M Ranch is one of the many wonders visited in his scenic travel guide book, “Cactus and Canyons”

Visit his website at:  www.stonesstravelguides.com

Silver Strike at Cobalt

A chance reflection from the bottom of Long Lake in the summer of 1903 sparked the

The Old Railway Station
Visit the old Railway Station

greatest silver discovery in Ontario. It wasn’t long before Cobalt was a fiery word spoken around the world wherever potential investors could be found.

The silver was first discovered by a couple of foresters who were picking out tracts of rich timber for the railway that was pushing into the area from North Bay and expecting to reap a big profit by logging areas relatively untouched because of their long distance to market.

Many mines filled the wilderness after the Strike

To check out the rumours of silver an Ontario Provincial geologist came to the site. He too spotted the silver and also found some samples of the mineral cobalt. He painted Cobalt on a sign and erected it at the south end of the lake.

Old Air Compressor
Old Air Compressor

There, in the Ontario wilderness, the town of Cobalt sprang to life and grew rapidly to over 10,000 people. Before the town had its 3rd birthday it was levelled by an exploding dynamite cache. Subsequent fires and influenza struck the town but it has survived.

The two foresters had started a silver bonanza and by 1908 the McKinley-Darraugh Mine was producing tons of rich silver ore. That intensified the search. If there was silver in one spot, maybe it was in others, and a multitude of mines became the proof of that theory.

Mining Country
Mining Country Could be Anywhere

The ore was extremely rich producing over 500,000 ounces of silver, but the veins were shallow. By the beginning of the 1920’s with a large number of mines actively mining, the ore was running out for some mines and it was not too long before the population shrank. The town did not die as has happened to so many mining towns. It’s not a ghost town but is a quiet place with many historic buildings, although it has lost many to the rampages of fire.

You will find people very friendly and ready to direct you to interesting places. You

Heritage Silver Trail
Heritage Silver Trail

definitely will want to stop at the Cobalt Mining Museum which is surprisingly spacious inside. It has a large display of silver ore as well as other mineral and rock displays. There is a wonderful display of fluorescent rocks that is really magnificent. In addition to the rocks and minerals you can check out the large collection of mining and prospecting equipment.

The Train Station Welcome Centre is just down the hill from the museum and contains a military museum display.

One of the Murals Found About Town
One of the Murals Found About Town

Today the Heritage Silver Trail is a self guided six kilometer trail visiting some of the closer historical mines and showing you a variety of aspects of mining. This is an interesting drive for those who like history, and ghostly ruins. It’s quiet, yet if you listen very hard, you maybe can hear the sounds of mining, the explosions, the noise of the mills, and the tramp of tired miners going home after their day’s work.

Happy RVing

For more than four decades James Stoness has travelled the roads of North America, photographing and writing about what he has seen. His travel articles and beautiful pictures have been published in several magazines and newspapers. He is also the author of five western novels.

Cobalt is one of the many wonders visited in his scenic travel guide book, “Canada: Beyond the Far Horizons”

Visit his website at:  www.stonesstravelguides.com