Ketchie’s interest in grist mills began with a college geography term paper assignment at Appalachian State University. While doing research, he discovered Winebarger’s Mill in Meat Camp, NC, a custom mill that ground corn, wheat, and buckwheat into meal that its neighbors could use in baking. When Walter Winebarger turned a wheel that opened the gate to allow water to begin flowing over the steel overshot wheel, Ketchie felt the building shake to the point he was eyeing the door for an escape route pending its ultimate collapse. Eventually, the system fell into a steady rhythm, and the belts and gears filled the air with flour dust. During his junior and senior years of college, Ketchie and his friends had the opportunity to live in a grist mill in Sugar Grove, just outside of Boone. These events had him hooked for a lifetime of studying and sharing his love of old water-powered mills.
Through researching the mills of Watauga County, Ketchie found very little has been documented about this early industry. Mills were established before stores, churches, schools, communities, and even roads were built. They were the first manmade landmarks and became waypoints for early settlers. There are just under 1,000 county roads in North Carolina that retain early mill names, with Alexander County having four, including Linney’s Mill Road.
Forty-plus years later, Ketchie’s interest in educating people and preserving old water-powered mills has not waned. For the past four years, he has served as editor of a worldwide magazine, “Old Mill News,” published by the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM). This quarterly publication is full of beautiful photographs and stories of efforts to preserve the heritage of the milling industry.
Ketchie has personally visited, photographed, and documented over 160 grist mills in North Carolina. He is an award-winning writer, photographer, and speaker in the field of grist mills. His hobbies include handcrafting unique miniature millstones in the form of drink coasters, ornaments, soaps (made with grits), and pendant necklaces, and working on a book which will serve as a field guide to the old water-powered mills of North Carolina. He refers to himself as the “Ambassador of Old Mills” and loves hearing personal mill stories and learning about mills he hasn’t yet encountered.
Refreshments will be served following the program. Chad Ritchie and Robbie Herman will perform a selection of old-time music. The public is cordially invited to attend.