CNY Hiking HOME PAGE | Virginia BRP Highlights | Blue Ridge Parkway |
Blue Ridge Parkway Developed Areas Mabry Mill
|
When Edwin Boston Mabry (1867-1936) built his water powered mill in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, he had no way of knowing it would become one of the most photographed places in the United States. The mill, at milepost 176.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is now run by the National Park Service and has several hundred thousand visitors each year. Ed Mabry was one of the fifth generation of Mabry's to live in this part of Virginia. He was born in Patrick County and is buried in Floyd County not far from the mill.
Before 1890, on land not far from his birthplace in Patrick County, Ed Mabry had a water turned lathe which he used to make chairs. Later he worked as a blacksmith in the coal fields of West Virginia. In 1903 he returned to Floyd County and soon began construction of the mill. It was first a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, then became a sawmill.
By 1905 it was in operation as a gristmill. By 1910 the front part of the mill was completed and included a lathe for turning out wheel hubs, a tongue and groove lathe, a planer and a jig-saw. Between 1905 and 1914 he bought adjacent tracts of land, mostly for the purpose of acquiring more water power. Those who knew Ed Mabry thought well of him and have described him as peaceable, easy-going, honest, hard working, a Primitive Baptist and a Republican.
Whatever he needed he tried to make himself including most of the furniture in his home. He didn't travel much, but when he did it was either on foot or in his one-horse Concord wagon. Today the Mabry Mill is one of the most popular attractions on the entire Blue Ridge Parkway.
The gristmill and sawmill have been restored by park naturalists in order that visitors might see live exhibits, a real mill and a working miller to demonstrate the milling process. The grounds of the mill include other interpretive media all designed to tell about mountain industry. The Matthews Cabin is an outstanding example of mountain architecture and workmanship and offers an intriguing look into the tanning and shoemaking crafts. There is also a whiskey still, a sorghum mill and a working blacksmith shop.
Ed Mabry left no children, but his legacy lives on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This hike is featured in the hiking guide book Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a must do leg stretcher along the Parkway. There is a map below of this famous area of the Parkway.
CNY Hiking HOME PAGE | Virginia BRP Highlights | Blue Ridge Parkway |