MEADOWS OF DAN, Va. (WDBJ) – Repairing Mabry Mill costs a pretty penny. That’s why the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is actively raising funds for the roof replacement.
The foundation says it’s about two thirds of the way of reaching its $65,000 goal, the price for the roof shingles.
“Once we have that raised, then we’ll work with the park service to determine how they will be installed and that step is yet to be determined,” said Kevin Brandt, Virginia Development Director for the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
Brandt says these shingles are authentic and can’t be purchased at your local hardware store.
“The craftsmen who actually produces these, they go out in the forest and they find a particular white oak tree…these are pretty rough cut. It’s the way it would have been done at the time that Mabry Mill was first constructed,” explained Brandt.
While other things at the mill do need work, like pond dredging, Brandt says they’re prioritizing funding for the roof first.
“Without a watertight envelope, which is predominantly the roof, the rest of the building is not protected as well,” explained Brandt.
They’re hoping to reach their goal soon so they can move on to next steps.
“We know that this is an important asset to the community, not just from a tourism standpoint, but from the very fabric that the community assigns to Mabry Mill,” said Brandt.
Click here to donate to the fund.
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