The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is hosting a ribbon cutting on Monday to celebrate the installation of a new shake roof atop historic Mabry Mill.
The event will begin at 11 a.m. at Milepost 176 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Patrick County.
Ed and Lizzie Mabry built much of the mill and surrounding buildings themselves in the early 1900s. Challenged by the land’s inadequate water supply, the Mabrys slowly acquired water rights and surrounding plots of land, assembling a complex network of flumes, ditches, and sluices to deliver water to the mill.
The mill was acquired by the National Park Service in 1938.
“I am excited to see the new roof completed. Mabry Mill holds a very special place in the lives of many people here in Patrick County and our gateway community of Meadows of Dan. The members of our community have been adamant about restoring the mill, and we are fortunate to have the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation assist in this process,” Patrick County Economic Development and Tourism Director James Houchins said.
The project required extensive planning to ensure historical accuracy. The preparation and roof installation were undertaken by the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center.
The team installed hand-riven white oak shakes crafted by Cumberland Mountain Craftsman based in Harrogate, Tenn.
Additional shakes will be used to replace the roof at nearby Puckett Cabin.
The project was made possible by donations to the Foundation and funding through the National Park Service.
“Mabry Mill is known as the Parkway’s most photographed site, and donors are committed to caring for this place that has become a touchstone for generations of visitors,” said Jordan Calaway, chief development officer with the Foundation. “Their dedication was instrumental in this rehabilitation.”
Rangers and National Park Service volunteers are now offering blacksmithing, weaving, outdoor cooking, and traditional Appalachian folk craft demonstrations each week at the mill.
The Blue Ridge Music Center hosts free Milepost Music sessions featuring local musicians from 2 to 4 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the nonprofit fundraising partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway, helping to ensure cultural and historical preservation, natural resource protection, educational outreach, and visitor enjoyment now and for future generations.
Since 1997, the Foundation has provided more than $24 million in support for the country’s most visited national park unit.
To learn more, visit BRPFoundation.org.
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Chris Graham
