Atkinson's Grist Mill - Selma

photo courtesy of Atkinson's Mill website



http://www.atkinsonmilling.com/index.htm

      Visiting Atkinson's Mill is quite a different experience than seeing Yates Mill. Atkinson's is still a commercially operating grist mill - it's actually the last operating commercial, water-powered grist mill in eastern NC. The Mill operates 24 hours a day, four days a week. So instead of the peaceful, wooded surroundings you'd find at Yates Mill, Atkinson's looks more like an industrial site. There's a weigh station for tractor trailers at the gate and plenty of giant grain hoppers.

     The other big difference between Yates and Atkinson's is the kind of mill they are. Yates is an upright water wheel mill, whereas at Atkinson's, gates are opened to allow water to turn gears and these gears are mostly hidden underneath the structure. A small upright water wheel was installed on the outside of Atkinson's to satisfy tourists who expected the traditional wheel. Even though Atkinson's original structure was built in the mid-1700s, the current structure is circa 1950 and the dam was built in the 1930s. It's not a bad idea to visit these two mills consecutively because they provide such a stark contrast to one another and you will be able to remember what you learned from the first one to ask questions at the second one.

    On one of the hottest days of the summer, I was looking for something to do that didn't involve a lot of time spent outdoors. Unfortunately, the Mill wasn't the best idea because it's definitely not air conditioned. On the bright side, because it was so hot, the mill workers stopped work early and we had the whole Mill to ourselves to see with our personal tour guide, Andrew. Ownership of the Mill runs through Andrew's grandfather and father so getting a tour from Andrew is like getting the insider's perspective.

     After we stopped at the office, Andrew met us down by the actual mill building. He led us through the process of turning corn into meal. Atkinson's makes several mixes for hushpuppies and seafood breading. They even have a warehouse on site where they store their frozen food products. Andrew showed us the high water mark on the wall of the Mill when Hurricane Floyd brought the Little River inside of the facility. The damage caused by Floyd got the Mill's proprietors thinking about moving their grinding operation away from the river. Andrew says that even if they moved the operation they would still grind corn by stone and they would turn the existing mill structure into a museum. 

     My toddler was enthralled with the workings of the mill and Andrew's presentation. I didn't know he wanted to be a miller's apprentice. He liked the fact that there was a fine, white dust on everything that he could run his hands through. My preschooler was less impressed; she just wanted to go home. I hate to think their difference in interest has something to do with the difference between males and females.

   If you're on the eastern side of Raleigh, the Mill is a short trip and the tour takes a half hour. I would recommend seeing it if you have an interest in commercial grist milling.

   To get to Atkinson's from 64 or 264, take the NC 39 exit and go South for 13.2 miles. At the intersection with NC 42 take a right to go west for a half mile. The Mill site will be on your right, before you cross the Little River bridge.

Historic Yates Mill County Park - Raleigh

http://www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill/default.htm


      Yates Mill is one of those rare gems where there is enough history to keep adults intrigued and enough fun to keep little kids interested.This is the second Wake County Park I have found that caters to young children as well as adults (Oak View is the other one). I would even go so far as to say that these two Wake County Parks outshine most NC State Parks and Raleigh City Parks.

      Yates Mill is a functional water-driven grist mill that was built before the Revolutionary War. It's obviously been renovated and preserved since then, especially after Hurricane Fran did a number on it. Severe weather still has a significant impact on this park as the recent tornadoes in the late spring of 2011 have closed the Creekside Trail indefinitely.

      The Mill itself is open on Saturdays and Sundays for tours. It just so happened that we were there on a weekday while a private tour was going on and we were able to see the water wheel turning. We also got to see local area teachers working on an archaeological dig.

an excavation in progress

     After seeing the Mill, we took the Millpond Trail, a mile long circuit that skirts the edge of the pond and at one point crosses the pond via a boardwalk. It's an easy hike over easy terrain, even with my small wheeled stroller. Along the way we saw butterflies, lizards, and lots of odd shaped and brightly colored fungi.

    The visitor's center is huge and looks very new. A video in the center shows how the machinery in Yates Mill grinds corn.There are lots of hands-on activities for little kids in the center that focus on grinding corn and grain. There is also a dress-up area where little ones can try on colonial clothes. All of this fun allows adults to peruse the many placards about the Mill's history and about milling in general. You can even read about a Civil War era murder mystery surrounding the Mill.

    All of the necessary amenities can be found at the Park including picnic tables, clean restrooms, and a water fountain inside the visitor's center. The Park also conducts educational programs for children and adults. There is a fee to tour the Mill which you can find out about on the website.

    Even if you come on a weekday when the Mill isn't open, the scenery, the educational material, and the wildlife make Yates Mill a worthwhile trip - one that I would put at the top of my list.

Mill Pond

Laurel Hills Park - Raleigh

http://www.visitraleigh.com/listing.details.php?partner=14856&name=Laurel+Hills+Park%2FChildren's+Playground


     Laurel Hills is a Raleigh park and recreation center near Crabtree Valley Mall. I wanted to see this place because it boasts of having a 'playground for all children.' After seeing the playground myself, I will admit that it is extensive and reminds me a bit of the playground structure outside of the Durham Life and Science Museum, but it wasn't quite what I expected.

    A 'playground for all children' made me think it was going to be a playground especially designed for children with special needs - you know, completely flat and wheelchair accessible with maybe some equipment designed for wheelchair-bound kids. My children don't require such an adaptive environment but I was taking them because I thought it would be good for them to see a playground built with special needs children in mind.

     It's now apparent that the label 'for all children' refers to the playground's appeal to children of all ages. There were certainly enough structures for both my toddler and my preschooler to enjoy, as well as plenty of fun for older kids too.The structure functions almost like a maze where kids can get just out of reach of their parents, especially when it's time to leave the park. I hit my head pretty hard trying to wrest my toddler out of a small opening so I could take his sister to the bathroom.

    Plans are in the works to renovate the playground at Laurel Hills and rename it Sassafras Playground For All Children. It will be a more ADA compliant playground with structures specifically designed for special needs children. Until all of the money is raised to begin renovations, the existing playground will remain open.

     The Laurel Hills recreation center has a gym, classrooms, ball courts, and restrooms. When we were there, it looked like they were having an active summer camp session. There is also a basketball court and a baseball field at Laurel Hills. There's a pond too, but we didn't get a chance to see it. If you're in the Crabtree Valley area, Laurel Hills is a good place to let your children run off some energy.