In 1913 John Murray replaced the mill his father built in 1883 with a two-story beauty powered by a 22-foot, overshot waterwheel. The 28-acre, mill pond’s dam was raised six feet in 1938 and the impressive, 28-foot waterwheel was added. The Historical Association of Catawba County maintains the grounds near the tiny town of Catawba that includes the grist mill, general store, wheat house, and four of the Murray family’s homes plus outbuildings.
The 105-year-old Murray’s Mill still runs like a clock. Commercial production ceased in 1980 due to government red tape and taxes.
Murray & Minges General Merchandise was built across the street from the mill in 1890.
The store’s walls and ceilings are bead-board with an octagonal opening in the main room where Karen posed with local volunteers for the annual fund raising event.
Historic re-enactors and Boy Scouts spent the weekend camping on the grounds.
Spread around the grounds were exhibits for critter petting, pony rides, antique machinery and cars, candle making, boiling molasses, iron work, gold panning, bluegrass music, arts, crafts, and food booths.
The Antique Ford Club lined up an impressive array of vintage Fords.
Old tractors are magnets for old farmers who still work their land with some of these antiques. The red beauty behind me is a Canadian Cockshutt. I overhead one of the guys standing next to it say, “I cain’t keep my cockshutt workin’ no more.” The other guy says, “Cockshutt parts are hard to come by.”
A shaded area carved into the stone outside Murray’s Mill made the perfect amphitheater for listening to Country and Bluegrass musicians when learning how to make horseshoes or dipping candles got tiring. This was a family-friendly, fun event with all the proceeds going to an excellent cause.