Mark's Photo Travels

On Veterans Day, or November 11th, I returned once again to northern Greenville County to visit more old buildings from the past. Here are my highlights. Ballenger Mill Ballenger Mill is located on Old Ballenger Mill Road a few miles north of the Highland community. According to a MillPictures.com section dedicated to the mill , the mill was built in the 1820s by Lewis H. Dickey. After the Civil War, the mill was known as L. Green's Mill. The name changed to Ballenger Mill in 1960 when it was purchased and restored by J. L. Ballenger. The current owner, Willow Creek Conservatory , uses the site to host weddings and other events. A pretty photo from December 2010 by Flickr photographer Donnie Bagwell shows a mill race that's been removed since. The covered bridge is a 20th century creation. The grounds also has a tiny chapel converted from a one room schoolhouse. The place is beautiful and is obviously well suited to hosting weddings. Waldrop Stone Cot

It's become a tradition to head up to Hendersonville, NC about this time every year to buy some Granny Smith apples and explore the area. Last year I visited the historic train depot and Little Bradley Falls . This year on a warm October 30th I toured several tourist towns along U.S. 64 and N.C. 9. Tuxedo First stop was Tuxedo, off N.C. 225 (Old U.S. 25) , to visit the former Tuxedo School building. According to a history of the school , the first Tuxedo School building opened in 1926, but burned three years later in 1929. This second school was built in 1930, and closed in 1994. The school is unoccupied right now. Hendersonville For many years I've been going to Sky Top Orchard to buy my apples, but I haven't felt like dealing the crowds the past two years. I just want to get my apples and get on my way. Lately, I've been going to Mountain Fresh Orchards , just off Interstate 26 near Hendersonville. Their apple orchard is beside and behind the store.