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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)