Author: danrouth

Greensboro, NC based commercial and editorial photographer.

Buffalo Ford

History

(Photograph copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

If you stand on the bridge over Deep River on Hinshaw Town Rd in southeastern Randolph County, North Carolina, and look north, you see a tranquil yet nondescript scene. Nothing special is there to let you know that this is probably the most historically rich spot in Randolph County. Within just a mile or so from this spot are the Hinshaw farm and Evergreen Academy I posted about in an earlier blog post, as well as Cox’s Mill, the last intact water powered grist mill in the county. Closer still are two eighteenth century mill sites, an eighteenth century sawmill site, and at least 3 bridge sites. Buffalo Ford was a major crossing point of the Deep River on the route from Hillsboro to South Carolina, and in 1780, several thousand American Continental troops were camped here for several weeks when General Horatio Gates took command at this spot and then marched his army south to the ill-fated Battle of Camden. In 1781, Tory leader David Fanning’s base camp was located here from which he raided patriot forces in the neighboring areas. That’s a lot of history in a very compact area. That’s the up side. Ask most folks in Randolph County if they have any idea that Buffalo Ford exists, and most won’t know what I’m talking about. That’s the downside. Pity.

(Postscript: The name Buffalo Ford comes from the fact that in the 18th century, there were native bison still alive in the area.)

Cox’s Mill

History, Mill

A mile or so from the Hinshaw Barn near Buffalo Ford on the Deep River in Randolph County, North Carolina is Cox’s Mill, the last intact water powered grist mill in the county and one of the last in the state. Built around 1900 on Mill Creek by a Beane, it was run by several different millers during it’s history. It sits adjacent to an 18th century mill site also called Cox’s mill. Raymond and Flossie Cox ran the mill from 1938 till around 1983, grinding flour and cornmeal and then feed, using water for power till 1953 and then converting to diesel and electricity. The mill is closed now, but all of the equipment is still on site and intact including the wheel.

I stopped by the mill on a snowy day to take a couple of photographs and spoke to Miss Flossie as she is called. She talked about the history of the mill she and her husband worked for over 40 years (and she worked the equipment beside her husband Raymond) and she told me of some of the other folks who were connected to it. I found out her mother was my great aunt’s sister; small world. Then she told me that John Routh also once ran the mill. I was floored. John was my great grandfather and I live in his house. I knew he was a miller all his life, but never knew his connection with this mill.

I don’t know how long Cox’s Mill will remain. Though intact, the roof is failing and the creek is slowly eating away at it’s foundation. Unless someone restores it, and that’s not likely, it will soon disappear and along with it the last chapter of a part of Randolph County history.

Flossie and Raymond Cox (Photo courtesy of Flossie Cox)

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Blacksmith

Blacksmith, Portraits

Master blacksmith Jerry Darnell works in his shop, Mill Creek Forge, on Busbee Rd near Jugtown in Moore County, North Carolina. Jerry is a retired high school math teacher who now produces colonial style iron works full time. He started working with metal when he was young, learning welding and metal work from his father, and then learning blacksmithing from several nationally known smiths. Jerry has been forging metal for some 40 years. He now also teaches blacksmithing at several national craft schools such as the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. For more information on his business and his beautiful work, go to http://www.millcreekforge.com/.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

" Oh give me a home where the…"

Randolph County

Most folks probably think that it’s boring living out in the country in a place like Grays Chapel, but to be perfectly honest, some days it gets quite exciting. On Tuesday my wife called and told me a buffalo was walking down the road in front of our home, something that normally doesn’t happen in North Carolina. I made a few calls, and sure enough found out that neighbor Matthew Walker owns several buffalo and as livestock are apt to do, had 3 animals get out out of his pasture. Yesterday afternoon Matthew located an eighteen month old male in the woods across from our house and my son Tristan and I went over to watch and give a hand. With the help of a little tranquilizer, 3 ropes, a tractor and several men, we were able to lead the wayward bison out of the trees and onto a livestock trailer with a minimum of stress and no casualties.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Amos Hinshaw Barn Details

History

I continue today with some interior and detail views of the Amos Hinshaw barn in southern Randolph County, North Carolina. Built sometime around 1880, the design is of a type not normally seen locally with it’s massive two story design and brick ramp leading into the second story.

Latch detail.

A pile of horse “single trees” along with plows and implements on the ground floor where livestock was housed and equipment stored.

Notice the strips of wood on the floor of the barn ramp to provide traction for the horses/mules bringing hay into the loft.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Amos Hinshaw Barn Exterior

History

Across the road from the Evergreen Academy is still another gem of Randolph County, North Carolina historical architecture, the Amos Hinshaw barn. Built sometime around 1880 by Quaker farmer Amos Hinshaw, it is like no other barn in the county with it’s massive construction and a brick ramp leading to the second floor loft to enable wagons to drive in with hay. The plan is based on Swiss style barns seen in Indiana by Amos’s father Thomas during the Civil War. The story of why Thomas was in Indiana is a fascinating one and can be read in the following genealogy link. http://www.rawbw.com/~hinshaw/cgi-bin/id?326

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)

Evergreen Academy

History

Located in southern Randolph County, North Carolina, Evergreen Academy is a one room school house built by the Quakers shortly after the Civil War. It remained in use until sometime around the 1920’s. I say one room, although there is a folding door system that will convert the main area into two spaces. While all the desks and other artifacts have been removed (except for the lone chair above and a few boards and tools), the school building has been basically untouched since it was last used. As one with a background in archeology, stepping through the door is about as close to a King Tut moment as I will ever have. I walked in and immediately saw the chalk letters on the boards that are one hundred years old and remain unchanged since the moment they were written. It was like opening a time capsule. The writing is on blackboards. I use the plural, because there is no slate, but rather the wall boards are painted black. Standing in front of the boards, you can almost hear the children that once studied here.

(Photographs copyright 2010 by Dan Routh)