The Breneman-Turner Mill

This historic grist mill is only open on occasional Saturdays. We went there this weekend and got an informative tour.

This is the only pre-Civil War mill in Rockingham County that still has complete milling equipment. The machinery is impressive, technically complex and still operable. Corn was ground here until 1988. 

The mill wheel bears a label of the Fitz Water Wheel Company.

A Civil War Trails sign stands outside the mill. It tells how this mill survived "The Burning" in 1864, when Federal soldiers burnt barns, mills, and other structures that supported the Confederate army. 

"George Shaver, the 70-year-old miller, lived in the house to your left. He was seriously ill, so his 77-year old Wife, Hannah, pleaded with the soldiers not to burn the mill. Sympathetic but following orders, they set the fire and then left; Mrs. Shaver quickly beat out the fire with a broom."

Butterflies in Maurertown

 

A Long Painting and Some Weather Pictures

Monday Murals: I'm running out of big murals to show you so this is a long narrow one that serves as a backdrop for a model railroad in the Dayton Market. If you didn't notice it when you visited there, you probably didn't look upwards. 

 

Mosaic Monday: I need to make room on my hard drive so I'm deleting old photos, starting with trail camera pictures. Here are four night shots of rain or snow coming down. 

We had rain here today but nothing to be alarmed about. I worry about the people who didn't get out of the path of Hurricane Ida. I remember the destruction 16 years ago. We were living in Montross and I had only been blogging a short time, but I did mention it. Usually I stick to local topics on my blog but some things are local in our hearts no matter where they are. 

Stay safe!

A Church and a Caboose

Elkton, VA

Inspired Sunday / Shadow Shot Sunday

This is the former location of the Elkton Church of God. It has now moved to a new building. 

Also in Elkton, a red caboose. 

 

Winged Variety Plus Extra Green

If you're tired of seeing butterflies, pretend this is a tiger. Papilio glaucus is the eastern tiger swallowtail.

I saw an egret today but I didn't have my real camera with me and my cell phone does not zoom enough to get a clear picture of him, so this is one of a series that I took on another day. 

The third picture is from a trail cam, which sometimes records a color cast. It is motion activated. Here it caught some black vultures having a get-together. 

From My August Archives

Today's pictures are from August 2018. I didn't take many pictures this week because I was busy with appointments: ophthalmology, a dental consultation, two physical therapy sessions, and a trip to Leesburg to accompany Frank to a hearing specialist. We also went to Woodstock a couple times because he is buying an investment property.

It's been hot except for a few late-day thunderstorms. Well, summer is coming to an end. I like summer but some of these days are too hot to spend time outdoors. 

 

Amusing Signs

I can relate to this one.

The hardware store has a new sign out front.

This was a small sign that made me smile.

Royal Lake has Ducks

 Fairfax, VA

The CCC Camp at Wolf Gap

George Washington National Forest

There is a small campground and picnic area next to the West Virginia line in the mountains that divide the two Virginias.

"Once the site of Civilian Conservation Corps Camp, Wolf Gap F-15" ... this phrase barely tells the story of this site. The camp opened in 1933 as part of Roosevelt's New Deal program to end the suffering of the Great Depression.  A year later it was designated a "colored' camp, meaning it would serve African-Americans. In those days, even government programs were segregated in Virginia. 

According to Shenandoah Stories,  Camp Wolf’s Gap "would provide employment, training, and a home for several hundred African American citizens of Virginia and surrounding states."

The camp today is a small recreation area, primitive by modern standards. There are a few campsites and a picnic area plus access to hiking trails. There hasn't been a water supply there for several years. I think the area deserves a permanent sign about the history and a working water pump or spigot. 

It is between Edinburg and Wardensville and worth driving the winding mountain road to visit in the autumn. 

Smoke Rising Like Pegasus

Viewed from Middletown, VA

 

Positively 4th Street

Warrenton, Virginia

I took these photos on 4th Street and nearby. The historic core of Warrenton is an interesting place to explore.

Monday Murals / Mosaic Monday

Let me close with one more collage. These are snapshots I took today on Skyline Drive. 

Have a good week and please stay safe!

Guadalupe Chapel, Warrenton

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

History of the Chapel / Inspired Sunday Linkup

This church was completed in 1861 and closed in 1963. Since then there have been various proposals for reuse, but it appears to be very quiet now.

During the Civil War, it was used as a hospital.

 

Summer Critters, Lost River State Park

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Do you see the bee on the cone flower?

I've shown hummingbirds from Lost River State Park previously. There is a feeder next to the Visitor Center.

There's a riding stable in the park. I did not go riding but I like to see the horses.

 

Last Week at Sky Meadows

Turner Pond, Sky Meadows State Park

Pollinator Garden

Butterflies by a Fence