Folklife Friday: Mingus Mill

If you are traveling through the Smoky Mountain National Park from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina, you will see the sign to Mingus Mill on the right just before you leave the park. Last weekend, we were privileged to spend some time there.

The mill was working, the huge grindstones powered by the little river outside and almost underneath the building, just as it has been doing for 126 years. The cornmeal they produce is sold to visitors.

The Mingus mill was first built in the 1780s. It was replaced by the current building in 1886. It was owned by the Mingus family until it was acquired by the National Park in the 1930s.

The wooden floor was worn smooth and the building vibrated slightly with the turning of the grindstones. The traditional water wheel is not there; it is powered by water flowing through vanes of a turbine.

My mama told us that during the depression, one hard winter her family existed on corn bread and molasses. They had grown and harvested corn, shelled it by hand, and taken it to a mill to be ground. Because they had no money, the mill would keep a percentage of the cornmeal as payment. My Grandpa would work for people who couldn't pay him cash but gave him molasses for his wages. It wasn't exactly a balanced diet, but it kept them going until times got better.

We never get tired of the Smoky Mountain National Park. It is about six hours from where we live, and we have been fortunate to visit there many times. It is consistently the most visited national park, according to the travel industry, with the Grand Canyon being second.

Road trip, anyone?

Comments

Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

Holy Smoke Pie

I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie. It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house. After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there. I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then. I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important. It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things. We call it Holy Smoke. Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan. It helps to use your hands (or hand, if you have t

Cedar Trees in Cemeteries

If you ever wander in old cemeteries, and I know many of you do, you are bound to see some cedar trees. The tradition goes back to the early days of the United States and even earlier in Europe. Cedar trees were not always used, but some type of evergreen trees were planted because they were a symbol of everlasting life. Some Cherokees believed that cedars contained powerful spirits, including the spirits of the departed buried beneath them. Perhaps because they are known as burial trees, there are many superstitions that surround cedars. My grandmother told us in no uncertain terms that if we planted a cedar tree, we would die when it was large enough to shade our graves. Some others are: Never transplant a cedar tree; it will bring bad luck. If you transplant a cedar and it dies, you will die shortly. Planting a cedar tree in your yard welcomes poverty. Some say Christ was crucified on a cedar tree, and will bring bad luck if you burn it. If a cedar tree com

Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Search This Blog