Mabry Mill – The Internal Destruction of Appalachia

The issues at Mabry Mill have been a concern for locals for a while now. But thanks to the efforts of people in and around the Meadows of Dan area, these concerns are starting to get some attention. I went there today with my son, taking photos around the site. Surprisingly, there were a lot of people walking the trails and enjoying the place on the day after Christmas. Even someone from Pennsylvania walked by and said in a friendly way, ‘Happy Holidays, and what a beautiful place!’ Well, it is a beautiful place, or was once upon a time in my memory. But today, even with the grayness of winter, the stark contrast between the lack of attention and the beauty of the place is obvious. Maybe even more obvious than the lush green of summer.

I wonder what the answer is. Is this site, a symbol of something bigger and something that’s more important than ever before? If we as a nation can’t take care of something as simple and precious as this historic site, what can we take care of?

Below are a few photos from today and from years past. Photos today of the Mill are unedited and unchanged.