Historic Blue Ridge Parkway Photos

By Bob Heafner © 2014

Online: December, 2014

Historical photographs of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Mileposts 150 and 200 in Virginia. These photographs illustrate life along the Blue Ridge during the 1930s and 1940s. They include images of old farms; chestnut trees standing as silent reminders of the blight that killed them all; old barns and cabins; a covered bridge in Floyd County, Virginia; many images of Mabry Mill and the crew who rebuilt the waterwheel, including Alonzo Newton Hylton; the Aunt Orleana Puckett cabin and her final home which was torn down.

Together they open a portal to a time gone by and a way of life that will never be again.

If you recognize a person or place included in these old photos please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., so that we can update the captions.

[Photo # 1] (Leslie Shelor: This is the Pob Boyd mill, which was at the end of the Willis Road where it comes to the Parkway. I remember that something was still in the creek there when I was really little; maybe part of the mill wheel. Could have been a Hubbard as a miller there, too, I suppose, but I always heard it called the Pob Boyd mill.) Image shows a wood cabin with a stone chimney on the left side, belonging to Boyd or Hubbard Miller. A second structure stands to the left side of the cabin. A note on the card says, "Reasonably sure this is cabin at road leading to Rocky Knob Cabins." Image taken by Thor Borresen in September 1941.

[Photo # 2] Image shows a house surrounded by trees and shrubs, with a dirt road crossing in front of it and a small dirt path leading to its front door. The house appears to be of older construction. Image taken by R.F.E. on August 28, 1936. Image taken near milepost 170 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Rocky Knob, Va.

[Photo # 3] Image shows a high water ford at a camp site built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A small house stands in the background, past the ford. Image taken by Robert G. Hall in May of 1938. Image taken near Rocky Knob, Va., and milepost 168 of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[Photo # 4] Image shows a covered bridge that crosses a stream. The walls of the bridge are made of wood, and the roof appears to be metal. The land beyond the bridge is relatively cleared of trees, and may be pasture or farmland. The image was taken near Floyd, Virginia, near milepost 162 and section 1R of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[Photo # 5] (Leslie Shelor: This is the Dolph Mangrum house down in Rock Castle Gorge. It was across the creek from the existing primitive campground. Mangrum also had a mill down in Rock Castle near his house.) Image shows the front porch and fence of the D.C. Mangrum home. The house was built 4 years earlier, but it was razed for construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Inage taken by R.F.E. on May 28, 1936. Image taken near Rock Castle Gorge in the Rocky Knob area, near milepost 170 of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[Photo # 6] This image shows a view of the Blue Ridge Parkway under development. A clearing is visible on the right side of the road, in which there is a line of dead chestnut trees. There is a wooded area with live trees behind the chestnut trees. The image was taken near station 1024+75 and milepost 155 in Section 1Q of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The photograph was taken in 1937 by Malcolm A. Bird.

[Photo # 7] Image of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the surrounding land. There are many dead chestnut trees in the background, and there are new plants growing amongst them. Image taken near milepost 152 and station 886 in section 1Q of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken by Malcolm A. Bird on October 12, 1937.

[Photo # 8] Image shows Edward's Store, as seen in the view looking down Rock Castle Gorge. There is an open field with a wooden fence, trees, and mountains in the background. Toward the center of the photograph a roof top is visible, and a straw hat can also be seen. Image taken by Albert S. Burns in July of 1936. Image taken at milepost 168.7 in section 1S of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[Photo # 9] Image of Ed Mabry and his wife Lizzie in front of their house in the Mabry Mill area, near milepost 176.1 and section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The photograph shows the couple standing on the front stoop of their white clapboard home, which was built in 1915. The house was destroyed and replaced by the Matthews cabin, which was acquired by the National Park Service and restored and moved to the site in 1956. A copy of the original photograph was taken by Hugh Bell Muller in August of 1967. The original photograph was taken in 1922, and the original photographer is unknown.

[Photo # 10] Image of Ed Mabry and his wife Lizzie in front of their house in the Mabry Mill area, near milepost 176.1 and section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The photograph shows the couple standing on the front stoop of their white clapboard home, which was built in 1915. The house was destroyed and replaced by the Matthews cabin, which was acquired by the National Park Service and restored and moved to the site in 1956. A copy of the original photograph was taken by Hugh Bell Muller in August of 1967. The original photograph was taken in 1922, and the original photographer is unknown.

[Photo # 11] Image of Ed Mabry and his wife Lizzie in front of their house in the Mabry Mill area, near milepost 176.1 and section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The photograph shows the couple standing on the front stoop of their white clapboard home, which was built in 1915. The house was destroyed and replaced by the Matthews cabin, which was acquired by the National Park Service and restored and moved to the site in 1956. A copy of the original photograph was taken by Hugh Bell Muller in August of 1967. The original photograph was taken in 1922, and the original photographer is unknown.

[Photo # 12] Image of the front exterior of a log barn in the Mabry Mill area near milepost 176.1, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. A split rail fence can be seen behind the barn. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Dale on March 5, 1939.

[Photo # 13] Image of the front exterior of a log barn in the Mabry Mill area near milepost 176.1, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. A man is near the right of the barn. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Dale on March 6, 1939.

[Photo # 14] Image of two structures in the Mabry Mill area near milepost 176.5, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in 1941.

[Photo # 15] Image shows a road which leads up to a group of small buildings. The buildings frame three sides of an open lot that appears to be used for parking and turning around. One of the buildings is a five car garage, and each spot in the garage has a car parked in it. There are more vehicles parked in the lot outside of the garage. A man is standing next to one of the cars, near to what appears to be a gas pump. The image was taken near milepost 199 in Section 1V of the Blue Ridge Parkway, near the Fancy Gap Maintenance Area. Image taken in 1940.

[Photo # 16] Image of a farmhouse and the surrounding land. On the left side of the image there is an automobile traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as two parked vehicles. The image was likely taken near milepost 155 and station 987 in section 1Q of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken by A. S. Burns on October 28, 1936.

[Photo # 17] Image shows a dwelling, including a main house and two other small buildings, on a hill covered in grass. In the distance, to the right of the main house in center, is a series of at least three other buildings with white roofs. Image taken near milepost 155.3 and station 1001 in section 1R of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Floyd County, Va. Image taken by Kenneth McCarter on March 20, 1940.

[Photo # 18] Image shows a house and a small shed at the center of a photograph taken looking down a hill. Possible wooden fence pieces lie on the ground in the foreground of the photograph. Fence posts and wooden fences run along the edges of the central house. The ground in the foreground appears to be primarily dirt and some grass and sticks. At the house and further in the background, the yard and hills beyond the house are covered in grass. There appear to be chickens in the yard to the right of the house. Scattered trees stand near the house and further in the background. Image taken near milepost 155.3 and station 100L in section 1R of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Floyd County, Va. Image taken by Kenneth McCarter on March 20, 1940.

[Photo # 19] (Leslie Shelor: Til Underwood had a home in Rock Castle Gorge but after his first wife died he moved out to the top of the mountain. His little farm would have been on the road described in the photo's caption. Til Underwood standing in a wooden cart that is being pulled by a team of two oxen.) A wooden bow yoke is fitted to the neck of each ox to hold them together. They are traveling along what appears to be a dirt and gravel road, which is separated from the surrounding land by a fence on either side. In the background, behind one fence, there is a pasture with a haystack, and beyond the pasture many trees and the Blue Ridge Mountains are visible. Image was taken on a road that leads to Rock Castle Gorge, near Rocky Knob and near milepost 167.1 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken by Albert S. Burns on October 23, 1936.

[Photo # 20] This is an enlargement of the farmer shown above. I am placing it here in the hope that someone can identify this man. Leslie Shelor has identified the man as Til Underwood.

[Photo # 21] Photograph of a pasture as viewed from the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image shows a line of trees, and in the lower right portion of the image is a detail of a fence. Image was taken at milepost 163.1 by in August of 1936, near station 1440 in section 1R of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Taken by A.S. Burns in 1936.

[Photo # 22] Kelly School. The view of this school in its unrestored condition is an example of the many cultural resources to be found along th parkway.

[Photo # 23] View of Mabry Mill, located off of the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 176.1 in section 1T. Image taken from the North Carolina State Archives.

[Photo # 24] View of the Mabry Grist and saw mill before the NPS dredged the pond and razed the Mabry House in 1947, replacing it with the Matthews Cabin in 1956-57. Photographer Unknown. Date: 1938.

[Photo # 25] Image of Mabry Mill before it was restored near milepost 176.5, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There are two structures in the photograph. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in 1941.

[Photo # 26] Image of a blacksmith shop at Mabry Mill near milepost 176.1, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photograph also shows the head of a flume and a sorghum mill. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in June of 1942.

[Photo # 27] Image of the Mabry Mill water mill near milepost 176.1, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Edward H. Abbuehl on October 11, 1937.

[Photo # 28] Image of Mabry Mill near milepost 176.1, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mill's water wheel is covered in snow and ice. The mill's flume can be seen extended from the rear of the mill to the elevated grounds behind the mill. The mill's stone base can also be seen in the image. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographer and date taken are unknown.

[Photo # 29] Bud Goad on left, Alonzo Newton Hylton on right, using axes to chop a large piece of timber as part of the mill's water-wheel construction. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in June 1942.

[Photo # 30] Mabry Mill during restoration near milepost 176.1, of the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the land surrounding the mill, there is a large piece of dredging machinery. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by C.E. Westveer. The date the photograph taken is unknown.

[Photo # 31] Bud Goad attaching a paddle of the Mabry Mill water-wheel while Alonzo Newton Hylton looks on, near milepost 176.1, of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The water-wheel is mid-construction, with about three-fourths of the paddles in place. The area surrounding the mill is littered with debris most likely from the construction. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in July 1942.

[Photo # 32] Left to right, Alonzo Newton Hylton, Bud Goad, other two unknown, standing in front of the mid-constructed Mabry Mill water wheel near milepost 176.1, of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in July 1942.

[Photo # 33] Left to right, Alonzo Newton Hylton, Bud Goad, other two unknown, standing in front of the mid-constructed Mabry Mill water wheel near milepost 176.1, of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in July 1942.

[Photo # 34] Image shows an old wooden barn, as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway. In the foreground there is a stretch of open ground covered with scattered sticks or roots. A wooden fence runs along the center of the photograph, surrounding the barn and the grass-covered patch of land on which it sits. There appear to be stone fences in the background and to the left edges of the photograph, sectioning plots of land. A line of trees stands behind the fences, and rolling hills and mountains appear in the distance. Image taken by Robert G. Hall on March 28, 1939. Image taken to the right of VA Route 8, near milepost 165.4 in section 1S of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[Photo # 35] Image of a wooden barn with a catslide roof, located near Station 1338 and milepost 159.4 in Section 1R of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The image shows some of the surrounding land, as well as a wooden fence which passes in front of the barn. Image taken by Robert G. Hall on March 28, 1939.

[Photo # 36] Image of a barn and surrounding farm area near milepost 176.1, section 1T of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken from the National Park Service, Blue Ridge Parkway Headquarters. Photographed by Kenneth McCarter in October 1939.

[Photo # 37] Image shows a valley, pasture, and the Dood and Ollie Belcher farmhouse and farm buildings near the parkway. The road runs along the left side of the photograph, and the land slopes down to a valley below it on the right side. A wooden fence runs along the bottom of the valley, and an open pasture, farmhouse, and farm buildings appear in the right side of the image. Trees and rollings hills appear in the background beyond the farm buildings and the road. Image taken by Edward H. Abbuehl in May of 1938. Image taken somewhere between mileposts 165.4-174 in section 1S of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the Rocky Knob Area in Patrick County and Floyd County, Va.

[Photo # 38] Image shows a wooden barn, constructed of logs and with a shake or shingled roof. There is lean-to constructed at either side of the barn. The barn is located at the bottom of a hill, and a wooden fence runs along one side of it and encloses the land around it. The Blue Ridge Mountains are visible in the background. Image was taken near Station 1210 and milepost 158.8 in Section 1R of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Image taken by Robert G. Hall on March 28, 1939.

[Photo # 39] This photograph shows two wooden cabins alongside the road, near milepost 189.8 in section 1U. Two persons are in the photograph in front of the smaller structure on the left. The photograph was taken on July 25, 1939 by Dale Sipes. Building group which state proposed to remove. Puckett group. RAZED

[Photo # 40] This photograph shows the Puckett Cabin and outbuildings with two individuals in the foreground, near milepost 189.8 in section 1U. The photograph was taken on July 25, 1939 by Dale Sipes. Puckett Cabin House recommended retained as is.

[Photo # 41] Image shows a Civilian Conservation Corps camp from a distance, in a valley below as seen from the top of Rocky Knob. An open clearing and small buildings can be seen in the valley at the center of the photograph. Image taken by Edward H. Abbuehl in May of 1938. Image taken in Rocky Knob Park near milepost 168.5.