Carolina China

Tag: Places

  • Mabry Mill

    Meadows of Dan, Va
    Meadows of Dan river dot com
    — Spur of the moment is a very good way to make travel plans and that is what my wife and I did on Sunday afternoon. A one hour ride into the Blue Ridge Mountains and we felt one step closer to total comfort and satisfaction when we arrived at Meadows of Dan, Va. Meadows of Dan is a highway stop at the intersection of Virginia US-58 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This community is comprised of a few tourist stores which sell the normal “goodies” along with fresh fruits and vegetables which are grown locally, along with a couple of gas stations, a fire station and a couple of “country cookin” restaurants……….

    The head waters of the Dan River is near Meadows of Dan

    About a half mile north, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Meadows of Dan is a place named Mabry Mill. Here is the home of a grist mill from the early days and is probably one of the most photographed buildings in the world. The likeness of this mill is on millions of calendars, collector plates, nick nacks, and other paraphernalia. The Mabry Mill complex includes a replica of a settler home, a working black smith shop and other displays of old mountain life. The grounds are beautiful and very well groomed.

    During the summer months local musicians sometimes gather to have jam sessions. These folks are non-professionals who just enjoy playing and singing traditional mountain and Irish music. This Sunday was no exception. There was guitar, banjo, “bull” base and mandolin. Also there were a few sheets of plywood laid on the grass to create a dance floor. Have you ever seen folks from an audience move to the dance floor to do impromptu “clogging” and “flat footing”????………… All that I can say is WOW……………………and America is still alive.

    Mabry Mill is somewhat of a rest stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Along with the historic display, Mabry Mill has a restaurant so that you can restore your energy level from your day of playing tourist.

    Mabry Mill

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  • Dan River Revolutionary War

    Dan River Revolutionary WarThe Dan River actually played a part in the American War of Independence. This fact is not well known and did not win the war for the Americans, but it did have an effect on the Battle Of Guilford Courthouse.

    The Guilford Courthouse engagement between General Green, leading the Americans, and General Cornwallis, who was the commander of the British legions, was an extremely important event leading to the surrender of the British Army to the Americans at Yorktown.

    It seems that Cornwallis chased Green and the Americans from Charlotte to Greensboro, across the State of North Carolina from border to border. The American mountain men had kicked ass at Kings Mountain and Cow Pens. Cornwallis was pissed. Both armies were tired about this time. General Green marched past Guilford Courthouse, which is the present day city of Greensboro and to the Dan River along the North Carolina and Virginia border.

    Green had some how managed to get enough boats to ferry his army across the Dan River. Cornwallis was stopped by the river, because he did not have any boats. His army could have forded the river.

    Cornwallis knew that Green’s sharp shooters would have a field day with his men wading across the Dan River. Since they were tired and hungry, Cornwallis decided to back track to Guilford Courthouse and give his men an opportunity to rest.

    The crossings of the Dan River took place some where near present day Danville, Virginia.

    The chase from Charlotte to Greensboro took more of a toll on the British that it did on the Americans. Cornwallis actually destroyed some of his wagons and supplies in the belief that his army could/would move faster without the baggage.

    General Green decided that it was time to stop running from the British army. He recrossed the Dan River and marched his smaller army toward Guilford Courthouse which is about 30 miles south of the Dan River.

    dan valley dot com Dan River Revolutionary War Guilford Courthouse
    A battle that General Cornwallis had wanted for several weeks was about to happen. Although the British were stronger, there were a couple of things not in their favor. First of all, Cornwallis did not pick the battlefield and most important, he did not dream that Green would have the audacity to turn and attack a professional British army.

    The battle lasted for less than 3 hours with the Americans retreating and leaving the battlefield in the hands of Cornwallis and his British army. Greene’s retreat preserved the strength of his army, but Cornwallis’s frail victory was won at the cost of over 25% of his soldiers, dead or wounded. General Cornwallis is credited with saying ……

    “Another victory like this and I will not have an army with which to fight.”

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    The Battle at Guilford Courthouse was the last major engagement between the American and British armies before the British surrender at Yorktown. From Guilford Courthouse (present day Greensboro), Cornwallis marched to the port city of Wilmington, NC, where he was resupplied by the British navy.

    From Wilmington the British Army moved north toward Virginia. Green followed closely on his heels. At the same time Washington was marching south. The British navy was sailing south from New York to evacuate Cornwallis and his army from the southern states. The French navy was moving to intercept the British navy.

    Everything converged at Yorktown and the rest is history.

    The French navy arrived in the Chesapeake Bay before the British navy. The British commander decided not to engage the French ships, so they retreated, which left Cornwallis and the British army stranded.

    Dan River Revolutionary War

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  • Dan River Basin Cities

    Here is a list of towns that are in the Dan River Basin.

     

    • Chatham, Va
    • Collinsville, Va
    • Danbury, NC
    • Danville, Va
    • Eden, NC
    • Halifax, Va
    • Madison, NC
    • Martinsville, Va
    • Mayodan, NC
    • Meadows of Dan, Va
    • Milton, NC
    • Reidsville, NC
    • Roxboro, NC
    • South Boston, Va
    • Stoneville, NC
    • Stuart, Va
    • Walnut Cove, NC
    • Wentworth, NC
    • Yanceyville, NC

     

     

    Dan River Basin Cities

  • Eden

    Eden, Leakesville, Spray, DraperIn my younger years, Eden did not exist. There were 3 textile towns located in the north east corner of Rockingham County. There were known as Leakesville, Spray and Draper. In 1967, the 3 towns consolidated into one town and renamed themselves “EDEN”…..

    The Smith and the Dan River join together on the south side of Eden. The Dan River flows along Eden’s southern border while the Smith River flows from the north bisecting the city on its route to meet the Dan River.

    Eden is the largest city in Rockingham County with a population of approximately 15,000. As with most southern, formerly booming textile towns, Eden is fighting to hold its own in the ever changing world. The population seems to be relatively stable even though the textile industry is a fraction of it’s former self.
    Park in Eden

    History of “The Land Of Eden”

    By the mid-eighteenth century, the territory of present-day Eden was within a 70,000-acre (280 km2) estate owned by William Byrd II, a planter of Virginia and North Carolina. He originally called his estate “The Land of Eden”. This is taken from Wikipedia. Wikipedia tells of a very interesting history of the Town of Eden

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    This will take you to the Eden, NC official web site.[CLICK HERE]

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    Things to do in Eden

    []…Eden has what may be one of the last drive-in theaters in the country. CLICK HERE

    []…Museums of Rockingham County. CLICK HERE

    []…Freedom Park. The 58-acre park boasts a quarter-mile paved walking track, nature trail, picnic shelter with bathrooms, picnic tables, horseshoe courts, sand volleyball court, multipurpose field, and children’s playground. CLICK HERE

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    []…See a list or recommended restaurants in the Eden area. CLICK HERE

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    Eden North Carolina

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  • Dan River Basin

    Dan River Basin

    The Dan River is the key river in the Dan River Basin. The Mayo River, the Smith River, the Sandy River, the Hyco River and the Bannister River flow into the Dan River. In turn, the Dan River flows into the Roanoke River which eventually empties into the Albemarle Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

    The Dan Valley was formed by the the Dan River which is central to the Dan River Basin with feeder rivers that include the Mayo River, the Smith River, the Bannister River, the Sandy River and the Hyco River. At the east end, water from the basin drains into the Roanoke river basin.

    We are Dan Valley Dot Com and the Dan Valley is our home.

    The portion of the basin known as the Dan Valley lies on the border of North Carolina and Virginia. This valley and basin began to take shape millions of years ago immediately after the Appalachian Mountains were formed and was cut from the mountains by the Dan River from which it gets the name Dan Valley.

    The headwaters of the Dan River are in the state of Virginia near the community of Meadows of Dan. From here the waters flow east and then south into North Carolina near the towns of Danbury, Walnut Cove, Madison and Eden. Near Madison the river makes a turn to the northeast through Danville, Virginia and on to South Boston, Virginia and finally empties into the Roanoke River for a final push back into North Carolina and to the Atlantic Ocean. The water that begins near Meadows of Dan actually crosses the NC/Va border 4 times before hitting the Atlantic Ocean.

    The Dan River Basin includes all or most of eight counties: Patrick, Henry, Pittsylvania, and Halifax in Virginia, and Stokes, Rockingham, Caswell and Person in North Carolina. Smaller portions of eight more counties lie in the Dan River Basin: Floyd, Franklin, and Mecklenburg in Virginia, and Surry, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, and Granville in North Carolina.

    The Valley has many beautiful places to see and much history to study. Some of the rivers are still in their wild state with rapids and water falls. Hanging Rock State Park is a must see if you have even the remotest interest in nature. There is a new state park being developed along the Mayo River, which is a tributary of the Dan River. It is called Mayo State Park.

    Suggested Places To Visit
    Meadows Of Dan and Mabry Mill

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    Dan River Basin LogoThis map is furnished to us by the Dan River Basin Association. Please support their activities to make the Dan River/Valley area thrive.

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    Chapter 2

    The Dan River Basin is a significant river basin in North Carolina and Virginia, encompassing a total area of approximately 3,350 square miles. The Dan River itself flows for about 214 miles, starting in Patrick County, Virginia, and eventually flowing into the Roanoke River near the town of South Boston, Virginia. The basin is named after a colonial-era settler, William Byrd II, who named the river in honor of his brother, who was then the governor of the British colony of Virginia.

    The Dan River Basin is known for its beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife, and rich history. The river and its tributaries provide important habitat for a variety of aquatic species, including fish, mussels, and crayfish. The basin also serves as a vital source of water for drinking, agriculture, and recreation for local communities.

    In recent years, the Dan River Basin has faced environmental challenges, particularly related to pollution from coal ash and industrial contaminants. In 2014, a major coal ash spill occurred in the Dan River near Eden, North Carolina, resulting in significant environmental damage and prompting concerns about water quality and public health in the region.

    Despite these challenges, efforts are ongoing to protect and restore the Dan River Basin. Local organizations, government agencies, and community members are working together to address pollution, promote sustainable land use practices, and preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of the basin for future generations.

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