PDA

View Full Version : Sunday Ryde Murray Mill Catawba NC



hdspyder
09-19-2013, 06:16 PM
This past Sunday the wife and one of her friends were going to play migrant workers, and pick apples at Hendersonville. Only in America can you have someone pay you to harvest your crop. You have to love it.:roflblack:


Anyway this left me with a good problem, what to do and where to go. I jumped on the White Ghost and headed north on Hwy 18. Took a right on Mineral Springs Mountain Road which has very fun sections of twists and turns as you cross the mountain.



As I was coming into Rutherford College, I went west on Hwy 70 and continued to Morganton and Hwy 18. I headed back to Shelby and ate some lunch. I still had no definite plan of action. :dontknow:


It had been some time since I had rode to Lake Norman so I went east on Hwy 150. It was a pleasant day with temps in the mid 80’s. As I was coming to Terrell, I decided to turn left onto Sherrills Ford Road. It was a nice ride through the country side. When I got to Bandy, I turned right which is Murray Mill Road and went to the mill site.


The centerpiece of the historic district is Murray’s Mill, built by John Murray, whose father, William, had operated a mill on the site since 1883.

75989

Run by three generations of the Murray Family. They abandoned operations in 1967. The picturesque structures and surrounding land form the last milling complex in the county.


In 1980 the bins still held flour from the day Lloyd Murray shut the doors due to bureaucratic red tape and increasing taxes. 75990



“The mercantile department of O. D. Murray and Company,” the two-story, gable-front general store (later assuming an additional name, Minges, through a marriage). Visitors can crack the lid of an antique Coca-Cola refrigerator and grab a drink in the bottle. The store is also stocked with old-fashioned wooden toys, such as yo-yo’s and finger tops, as well as pioneer folk toys. Sweet tooths will find local honey, Mary Janes, Cow Tails, Striped Coconut, as well as a mix of modern candies.

7599175992

After a tour of the grist mill and store I headed back to Shelby by way of Hwy 10 and 18.


Sometimes the best plan is no plan!


For more info on Murray Mill contact http://www.catawbahistory.org