Aug 21, 2008 issue
Trade Grist Mill Grand Opening August 30
Local Source of Freshly Ground Flours Continues Tradition
Story by Bernadette Cahill
Trade, Tennessee, just over the state line, is the place to head for free family fun on Saturday, August 30. That’s the day when the historic community will celebrate the grand opening of its reconstructed grist mill. The event starts at 3:00 p.m.
Visitors can tour the mill that will be in full operation under the direction of miller James—appropriately named Miller.
“I have been grinding all my life,” he said. “I ran a mill in Abingdon, Virginia, for years, as did my daddy and my granddaddy.”
When the folks in Trade decided to revive the old milling tradition in their community, they asked Miller to take the key operating role. Now, Trade is the place to head for locally grown and ground flours and grains.
Miller is on duty milling every week from Thursday to Sunday, producing 20 different products, including whole-wheat flour, yellow grits, ground soy beans, flax seeds and—something that’s becoming a local favorite—popcorn grits.
“Local” has several meanings. In the recent Eat Carolina Food Challenge, it meant food raised in the Carolinas, and by that definition flours ground in Trade wouldn’t fit the bill. By Barbara Kingsolver’s definition in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, about the challenges of eating food raised locally, however, “local” is a food source within a 100-mile radius—and the Trade products fit right into that for Boone dwellers.
“Most of the grains are locally grown right here in Johnson County,” said Miller.
Trade Mill is an 18th century water-powered grist mill, formerly operating as the Snyder Mill one mile below the mill’s new home in Trade.
Much of the mill’s equipment used to be in Snyder’s Mill and harks back to pre-Civil War days, said Miller. The building itself is new, because the old one was too far gone for reconstruction. The grist mill actually started up about nine months ago.
At the grand-opening celebration, attendees will enjoy free hotdogs and drinks, and live music with the Buck Haggard Band. Also planned are a magic show, clogging, a clown, an air walk, pony rides, face painting, an Elvis, apple butter making, blacksmith demonstrations, cakewalks and gift giveaways. Fireworks will follow after dark.
After visiting the mill, kids of all ages can enjoy the Trade Park on the same premises, while older ones can enjoy some fishing in the trout pond.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, August 30
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Community Park, Trade, Tenn.
Cost: Free
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