Mark's Photo Travels

About a month ago, I made my annual trek up to Henderson County, North Carolina to buy some apples and do a bit of exploring along the way. This year, much like my recent trip to Renno , I decided to revisit some of the places I've been to before to see what, if anything, has changed. Staton's Grocery Staton's Grocery is located just south of Tuxedo on N.C. 225 (Old U.S. 25) near  the intersection with Green River Road . The store was built in 1920 by Ulysses Staton who also operated the store until his death. His wife, Effie, then operated the store until her death in 1981. The building later used as an antiques store, but is currently unoccupied. My first visit here was in 2012 , and looks much the same except the Dr. Pepper sign once above the left window is now gone. Tuxedo Community Store Continuing up N.C. 225, the old Tuxedo Community Store building  sits across the street  from where the Tuxedo's textile mill once stood (now the site of Tuxedo Park)...

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. ...

Usually about this time in October, I head up to Skytop in Zirconia to buy a nice quantity of Granny Smith apples (my favorite). This year I decided to be a little different (and also avoid the crowds) by travelling a few more miles north to Hendersonville to buy apples and take some photos. I've been to Hendersonville many times in the past, but never to their former  depot. This depot appears to be in great condition. A nicely painted old caboose resides an one end. Compare to this 2006 photo by Jon Huemmer at RR Picture Archives : The depot is currently occupied by the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club , and is open for tours a few hours on Saturdays. A neutered crossing gate by the railroad sits near the depot. The railroad between Hendersonville and Flat Rock has been dormant for a while now, and between Flat Rock and Landrum (containing the Saluda Grade ) since December 2001. A map of area apple orchards showed a cluster of them on U.S. 64 jus...