CHAPTER 1
The people who first settled the Blue Ridge Mountains came here in1730, and much of the history of the Blue Ridge can be accountedfor back to that period of time. As time passed, farms andsettlements grew across the mountains, but the pace of developmentwas not rapid. The first part of 1900 brought about changes, but indifferent ways from changes brought to other parts of the country.More specifically, the 1929 stock market collapse caused muchhardship and poverty.
The people in the mountains knew little or nothing about thestock market crash of 1929 leading to the Great Depression andthe resulting devastation it had caused. But they knew things werenot good. The collapse of the financial institutions and closing ofbanks seemed to cause everything to move on a downward trend.The closing of factories and businesses caused masses of people tolose their jobs, which led them to no longer be able to provide fortheir families. Word of civil disorder, suicides, losses of jobs and lifesavings, and widespread panic came pouring across the mountainsto the dismay of all. The people of the Blue Ridge were concernedthat all these happenings might keep spreading and somehow affectthem. Their concerns proved to be well founded.
These were strange times indeed, none of which made senseto the mountain folks, especially the suicides. They pondered whyanyone would kill themselves because of material possessions orfor any other reason. Their families and land and religious faithwere foremost in their lives. All else was secondary. Even the lossof land was no reason for suicide. To them, the Holy Bible had thelast word concerning such matters—"Thou shalt not kill," and thatincluded one's self. The good people of the mountains knew that.During both bad times and good times, lives must move onward.Sometimes they are changed in unimaginable ways that createchallenges, all of which must be confronted.
They believed that lives are often changed in different waysunique to each individual and the circumstances presented atthe time. People in the mountains feared the Great Depressionbecause they were aware they were not immune to events thatoccurred in places both near and distant. They had participated inthe Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, and even theremoval of the Cherokee Indians from their beloved mountainhomes.
They were well aware that they did not live in a safe havenfree from all situations, serious as they may be. Issues continueand time moves on with each tick of the clock. The earth revolveseach day, the moon circles the earth every thirty days, and theearth completes its journey around the sun every year. So go thepredictable laws of physics that cannot be changed or challenged byhumankind. All else concerning humankind is subject to questionand change, with few exceptions. These are just a few of the factsevident and accepted by every interested person. Even issuesinvolving happiness or sadness are subject to these considerationsand facts.
The mountain folks were aware of their surroundings andthe things that must be done to survive and be reasonably happy.They had very little knowledge of the incalculable thousands oflaws governing the earth and the universe. But they did know andtook advantage of what they had and how to use each thing totheir advantage every day of their lives. Common sense made thedifference. Weather predictions, planting of crops, harvesting ofcrops, and physical healing were only a few of the commonsenselaws of nature that these intelligent mountain people consideredand used; these were the basis of their beliefs and their unbendingphilosophy of life.
During these hard and changing times, two young peopleborn and raised in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains met andtouched each other in ways that would alter their lives forever. Withodds against them, Millard Watson and Flora Holland decided tobe married and make for themselves a happy and prosperous life.Millard was from the small community of Birch Creek. Flora livedin a more mountainous section about ten miles to the north in aplace named Bald Ridge. They could not have selected a worsetime to begin a new life together. It was 1929, the year of the stockmarket crash. They were naive and failed to realize the full impactof their decision and how it could affect the remainder of theirlives.
Summer had arrived at last, following a cooler than usualspring. Weather permitting, a barn dance would be held everySaturday night and these festivities would continue until autumn.Millard and Flora met at that first barn dance in 1929. At that veryfirst dance, they immediately became attracted to each other. It was"love at first sight" as the old saying goes, but this was only partiallytrue. Flora was beautiful with red hair, emerald green eyes, and aslender body, and she was taller than most women. She was mostalways the prettiest girl at community gatherings or social events.
Everyone danced, and the moonshine flowed. Flora did notdrink whiskey except for an occasional sip to be sociable. Millarddid indulge to a moderate degree. Except for very short breaks, thebanjos, guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and a bass guitar rarely stoppedall night. The band enjoyed playing as much as the dancers enjoyedthe fine mountain music. Square dancing was the most populardance by far, but slower dances were popular as well. The waltz,two-step, and other slower dances fell into place as the hours passedon into morning and everyone was getting tired.
What a wonderful night it had been. Flora and Millard hadtalked and danced the entire night away. As Millard and Flora left,the sun was beginning to come up. "I am glad we met this night,"said Flora, looking at him adoringly. "I have a feeling this is aspecial night for us."
"It is a night I will never forget," Millard replied, "and I hope wewill have many more together."
Flora was seventeen, and most girls her age were alreadymarried. Even so, she was not prone to go against her parents'wishes. They had not told her so, but she knew they did not approveof her staying out too late.
"I am nervous about going home so late," she said to Millard,tilting her head up to meet his eyes. Millard was at least six feet tall,with muscular shoulders that complimented his perfectly balancedbody.
"Never mind," he assured her. "I will accompany you to the doorand accept full responsibility for the late hour."
As they approached her home, Flora could not avoid hopingno one would hear her arrive. The doors were never locked dayor night, but her father, Salem, was up early and met them at thedoor. Millard did exactly what he'd promised to do, and she couldtell her father respected him for that courtesy. Actually, after shethought about it later, she concluded that her father had little roomto complain. She had been told by more than a few that he had beenquite a rounder in his younger days and still was at times. Eventhought she had not dated Millard or even spoke to him beforethat night, that kind gesture from the gentleman he seemed to bemade dating him much easier and comfortable for her after theircourtship began.
She did not invite him in or show any indication that shewanted to see him again, but she was certain they would meet againsoon. He held her hand very briefly and said, "This has been one ofthe grandest nights of my life."
As he walked down the road from the house, she watched tosee if he turned and looked back. He walked a short distance andthen stopped and turned around, as though he expected to see herstanding there. She had already entered the house, and after somethought, she concluded that it was best to leave things as they werefor now. "What is to be surely will be," she whispered to herself.She had heard her mother repeat those words many times, and hermother had probably heard it from her mother before.
Flora immediately went to bed and did not move until afternoon. She could not remember ever sleeping so late, but neitherhad she ever stayed out until dawn. Apparently, everyone had keptquiet to avoid awakening her, or she had slept through the usualquarreling and noise that always occurred each morning among herbrothers and sisters. She suspected the latter to be true.
Late sleeping had never been allowed at her home. Muchfarmwork needed to be done each morning, and most of it had tobe done on time. She immediately went to see about her morningchores, but to her delight, she found her brother, Donald, had donethem for her. She gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek forhelping her. He laughed and pretended to try pulling away, but sheheld him tight.
Flora anxiously awaited the next dance. Sadly, however, shewas very disappointed. During the next week, one of those heavy,torrential mountain rains came with a vengeance, causing severeflooding. It rained heavily for three days without stopping. Mostfoot logs over creeks were washed away, tree branches and forestdebris of all kinds clogged every stream, and the few bridges in thearea were damaged and unsafe. Soil erosion was prevalent, causingsevere damage to crops. Every available person started workingto repair and rebuild as soon as the rain subsided enough for thework to begin. The tall corn was leaning heavily, but fortunatelymost of it, with help, straightened back up and continued growingsoon afterward. The hay fields were a mess but also continued togrow after they dried in the warm sun, assuring at least a moderatecutting for the livestock. The farm was carefully inspected fordamage, and everything down to the smallest vegetables thatsurvived the storm was replanted with firm soil placed aroundthem. Rocks were carried to fill in ditches and shore up the banksof streams and other things such as grapevine arbor posts and fruittrees.
Flora could think of little else but Millard while damages fromthe flood were being repaired. She wanted the work to be completeso her life could return to normal. Thinking of Millard was causefor her to work as hard as she possibly could. If only she knewMillard felt the same about her; that would be compensationaplenty for her labor. She was reasonably sure he did have feelingsfor her as she did for him. It would not be long now before shewould find out. The flood damage was repaired as much as possiblefor now. The men would have to cut heavy timbers before repairson heavier bridges and structural work could be finished.
But Flora was well aware that, even though the repairs werealmost completed, another flood might follow this one. She wouldallow no more such thoughts to enter her mind.
The following week, the word was out. A dance would be heldon Saturday night if enough people showed up. Flora could hardlywait. She knew she would have a pleasant evening, even if Millarddid not appear. If he did not come, she would consider that he wasnot finished with work caused by the flood damage.
Saturday morning, Flora was up early. She peered through thewindow hoping to see Millard coming up the road. "How foolish Iam," she whispered to herself. "If indeed he is coming, he could notbe expected to arrive this early." She set about cooking breakfast andhelping with the routine chores. As the sun began to climb higherin the sky, she wondered if he was on his way. She peered out thewindow again and again.
"Looking for your sweetie, are you?" her twelve-year-old brotherDonald, who loved to tease her, called out.
"None of your business," she yelled. Normally she would nothave yelled so loud, but she was getting anxious as to whetherMillard would come or not.
"He would not walk all the way up here to see an old gal likeyou," Donald continued, hoping to make her mad enough to chasehim with a broom as she usually did when he gave her good cause.
She decided to ignore him. Her thoughts were on Millard.Surely he will be here soon, she thought. But after all, he had madeno specific commitments to her. He could have other plans that hehad not mentioned to her for all she knew. Perhaps they had bothtaken each other for granted. They had not actually talked of goingto the next dance together, she rationalized. No date or plans hadbeen made between them.
With these thoughts in mind, she decided to proceed with theday. If she did not see him before the dance, she would go alone andjust make the best of the evening.
No sooner had the thoughts passed through her mind than shelooked down the road and there he was, walking briskly toward her.He was a ways off, but she could make out the bright smile on hisface. What a thrill it was to see him, and she was certain he felt thesame.
He called out as he approached. "I hoped you would behere. All this walking without a rest would have been a severedisappointment to me if you had not been here." He smiled.
"I must say, in all honesty, it would have been a letdown for metoo," Flora admitted without hesitation.
They sat down in the swing on the front porch for a while,talking about the horrible flood they had just witnessed and all thework it had created.
Millard seemed totally bewildered by it all. "Sometimes, I justdon't think it's worth the effort," he said. "Maybe moving off thesehellish mountains would be a good thing. Every damn time thingsget to going well, something like this flood happens. I intend to givethe idea serious consideration, and that's for sure."
"I doubt you will ever follow through with it," Flora said. "Ihave heard other men and some women make the same remarks,but they seldom carry through with their threats. When the days ofautumn appear with their beautiful splendor, how does one musterthe strength to just up and leave?" she said, looking him straight inthe eyes.
"You are probably right, but I might give it a try some of thesedays. About one more flood like this one, and that could do it," heremarked.
They walked around the farm, talking and observing thebeautiful place. It was an unusually well-equipped and organizedfarm. Fences separated the areas for crop planting, and a vast fieldfor animals was lush and green. Horses and cattle were grazingthere, and a small herd of sheep huddled nearby as though theywere enjoying a social gathering of a sort. The farmhouse was wellsituated near a spring at the lower edge of the field. A large pondcould be seen below a springhouse where ducks were swimmingabout.
Many rustic buildings were situated about the farm. A verylarge barn sat a good distance from the house, along with a hogpen and a chicken coop—their placement obviously due to the fliesand the odor of manure. A fine-looking blacksmith shop was neara large apple orchard to the left of the pasture. A woodshed andsmokehouse were located near the house.
Millard and Flora were enjoying every minute getting to knoweach other. Suddenly, Flora realized she was getting very hungry,and she suspected Millard was also. The day was moving alongquickly. Supper was almost ready, and Millard did not have to beinvited twice when the call to supper came. He had eaten a smallamount at breakfast but nothing since. When he sat down andbegan eating, everything tasted so good and he was so hungry hecould hardly sit still while he ate. The cornbread and buttermilktopped everything. Other family members at the table were amusedat the rapid pace he was eating.
He soon realized what he was doing and apologized. "I dobelieve I have completely forgotten my manners," he said.
There was no need to say anything. Probably everyone at thetable had been in the same awkward situation before. Besides, theywere country folks, and such things were not nearly as important asthey were in other places away from the mountains.
After supper, Millard went to the parlor and sat down. Florawent to her room to get ready for the dance. She wanted to lookher best for the dance that night. She arranged her hair as close tothe current fashion as she could and put on her nicest dress, whichshe had stitched completely by herself. It was beautiful and fit herperfectly. Like most ladies did during those difficult times, she'dobtained material for the dress from feed sacks. The feed companiesused bags with a floral or other pretty print. It improved their salesof animal feed, and women were delighted to receive cloth suitablefor making dresses and decorative items for the home.
