The times-news., 1938-07-08

tnC aged veterans SldPPIS lSVul
streams.
. When this large mill became
common, grinding was no longer
a family affair. but was com
munity service. In the large mills,
huge stone burrS or mill rocks
had to be cut and shaped. One
was made to remain stationary
and the other was turned by the
force of the water, while the corn
or other grain was fed in from
a hopper. 1t has been said that
some of the early mill stones were
brought from England. Today,
we sometimes see these old round
stones, with their carvings, set up
as sundials or ornaments in gar
dens, or perhaps used for door
step or hearth rock in house.
Many of them weighed more than
a ton and were patiently cut out
bv hand. Millwrights and stone
masons were key figures in the
setup of the early communities.
When other grain began to De
raised, equipment was put in to
provide for the grinding of flour:
q The corn mill could not grind
flour, as there were no proper
stones or boiling cloth to take
the bran from it; the old flour
mill, on the other hand, could also
grind corn. Mills where flour
could be ground were not so
close, sometimes FIVE or ten miles
apart. Each man must take his
turn waiting to get his grinding
done, and this gave rise to the
expression taking a turn to mill.
Never knowing how long it might
take to get his grain handled, the
farmer going to mill would make
preparation like he was starting
on the lengthy trip to market. He
would fill the ration box on the
back end of his wagon, hang his
cooking utensils on the side. put
in few quilts and blankets, then
load the sacks of grain and be
off, to return when his turn had
come at the mill. Even after 1910,
wheat and flour had to be car
ried twenty-five and thirty miles
o from some parts Of this territory,
to reach mill.
Grist mills, from the day of the
first "pounder" down to the ones
operated by internal combustion
engines or electric current, have
been important factors in the wei
fare of the highland peoples.
Even during the Revolutionary
war. wherever one could be Selz-
ed bv the British, it was operated
under heavy guard as long as the
armies were where it could be
made to serve them. SO important
were millers regarded that the
very earliest laws provided that
any man who operated mill
should be exempt from serving as
a Juror, and this law has never
been changed.
The first grist mill west Of the
Blue Ridge was built on Glcnn'S
creek, about two miles above
Ashevillc, by John Burton. He
had a man named Handlen to op-
crate it for him, and when not
busy with grinding, the miller cul-
tivated crop on the mountain
side lust across French Broad
river. One morning when he went
across the river to see about his
planting, he was murdered from
ambush by Indians. Since that
time. the mountain has been call
ed Handlen, after him.
On one occasion a small boy
was sent to Handlen's mill to have
corn ground. AS he was returning
with companion of about his
own age, one Of the sacks fell oil
the horses back as they were
crossing steep hill. While the
boys were struggling to replace 1t.
a party of Indians came by, and
indulging their spirit of mischief,
threatened and actually made
show of hanging the boys. After
teasing them until they were bad
ly frightened, they reloaded the
meal ana lelC IHe DoyS w 20 I"Si'
way without harm.
Some of the more popular mills
had stalls for the horses and shell
ters for the men and boys who
might be forced to spend the night
while waiting for their grain to
be ground. In busy seasons the
mill would run all night, particu-
larly just after crops had been
laid by or the approaching days
of the Christmas season. Another
rush time was just after thresh'
ing had been finished when every
body wanted new rye or wheat
bread.
The old mills were the center
of a gathering every day in the
week; here politics, religion ano
all the neighborhood affairs were
discussed well and long. While the
farmers waited, some of them
would pitch horse shoes, box and
wrestle. They might play Fox ano
Geese on the board which ha1
been cut on some wide plank oil
bench. In this homely game, whicl
was one of regional origin, that