>> THE WATER -- COLD, CLEAR, POWER-GIVING WATER
SPILLS AND SPLASHES.
THE WHEEL, TWO TONS OF STEEL, THE LATEST IN 1850s TECHNOLOGY,
GOES 'ROUND AND 'ROUND.
THE WATER TURNS THE WHEEL THAT TURNS THE GEARS THAT TURN THE
TWO MILLSTONES THAT GRIND THE KERNELS OF CORN.
THE CORN POURS OUT OF THE CHUTE LIKE SAND IN AN HOURGLASS.
IT FILLS A BUCKET.
THEN IT FILLS BROWN BAGS STAMPED WITH THE DELLINGER FAMILY NAME
TO BE CARRIED OFF TO OTHER FAMILIES' OVENS AND STOVES.
AND THE CYCLE GOES ON.
YOU MIGHT SAY JACK DELLINGER, THE 82-YEAR-OLD FOURTH
GENERATION MILLER, HAS COME FULL CIRCLE.
>> 42 YEARS THIS MILL HAS SET HERE VACANT.
>> 42 YEARS HE WAS GONE FROM THIS MOUNTAIN HOLLOW.
ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN, HE JOINED THE AIR FORCE AT 17, EARNED AN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE, WORKED ON THE SATURN V ROCKET WE
SENT TO THE MOON.
BUT IN 1997, HE RETIRED AND RETURNED HOME TO MITCHELL
COUNTY, A FEW TWISTS AND TURNS EAST OF BAKERSVILLE WHERE THAT
WHEEL HADN'T WHIRLED SINCE DADDY DIED IN '55.
>> AND I CAME BACK, AND I STOOD BESIDE THAT WATER WHEEL.
AND I GOT THIS FUNNY FEELING.
I'D SURE LOVE TO SEE THAT WATER WHEEL TURN AGAIN.
SO I THOUGHT HOW AM I GOING TO TELL MY WIFE?
>> HERE'S THE SPIN HE PUT ON IT.
>> I SAID, "HONEY, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A HOBBY, I DON'T
PLAY GOLF, AND I'VE GOT ALL THE CHORES CAUGHT UP."
I DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD ANOTHER LIST.
BUT ANYWAY -- HA, HA.
>> FORGET ABOUT THE TO-DO LIST.
WHAT ABOUT THE CHECKBOOK?
HE FIGURED MONEY DID GROW ON TREES AFTER ALL.
HE HAD 44 ACRES OF PRIME TIMBER HE COULD SELL.
BUT IT WAS JUST A SPLINTER OF WHAT HE NEEDED.
>> SHE SAYS, "WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD."
"IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO HAVE YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE."
HA, HA.
SO, ANYWAY, THREE YEARS LATER AND A TON OF MONEY, I GROUND MY
FIRST BUSHEL OF CORN SINCE 1955.
TODAY IT RUNS USING THE SAME WATER WHEEL, SAME GEARS, SAME
PULLEYS, SAME MILLSTONES, THAT MY ANCESTORS USED.
>> HIS GREAT GRANDDADDY, REUBEN DELLINGER, BOUGHT THIS WATER
WHEEL IN 1859, HAULING IT IN EIGHT 500-POUND PIECES THROUGH
THE MOUNTAINS FROM MORGANTON.
BY 1867, HE HAD IT RUNNING.
WHEN HE DIED, GRANDPA DAVE TOOK OVER.
WHEN HE DIED, JACK DELLINGER'S FATHER, MARVE, TOOK OVER.
THERE THEY ARE, THE MILLERS' NAMES ETCHED IN A SIGN, ALL BUT
JACK'S.
>> WELL, I AIN'T DEAD YET.
HA, HA, HA.
>> HE'S VERY MUCH ALIVE, JUST LIKE THE MILL HE RESURRECTED.
>> I JUST LIKE THE -- THE BEAUTY OF SEEING THAT WATER WHEEL
A-TURNIN' AND DOING SOME USEFUL WORK, YOU KNOW.
GOT A LOT OF GOOD TROUT IN THERE.
>> IT'S THIS CREEK THAT SUPPLIES THE WATER THAT SPINS THE WHEEL.
GREAT GRANDPA REUBEN DUG A 200-YARD-LONG DITCH CALLED THE
MILLRACE TO DIVERT WATER FROM THE CREEK TO HIS MILL.
A WOODEN FLUME LEADS TO THE MILLHOUSE.
OPEN THE FLUME'S GATE, AND THE WATER GOES RUSHING TO THE WATER
WHEEL.
WHEN THE CREEK'S UP, HE CAN GRIND A BUSHEL OF CORNMEAL IN A
HALF HOUR.
>> AND I'LL GUARANTEE YOU, I'D PUT IT UP AGAINST ANY OTHER
CORNBREAD IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN THAT.
IT'S A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN THAT STUFF YOU GET OUT OF THE
STORE.
>> OF COURSE, HE ALSO GRINDS OUT THAT MOST SOUTHERN OF STAPLES,
GRITS.
>> I'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT COME ALL THE WAY FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH
CAROLINA, JUST TO GET THESE GRITS.
THEY SAY THEY'RE THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
>> THE MILLHOUSE ITSELF IS A LOVELY THING OF CRAFTSMANSHIP,
BUILT OF WOOD FROM THAT GREAT LONG-LOST TREE, THE AMERICAN
CHESTNUT.
A FUNGUS WIPED OUT THE MAJESTIC TREE IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY,
BUT IT LIVES ON IN THE WALLS OF THIS MILL THAT JACK DELLINGER
SAYS COULD, TOO, LIVE ON WITH HIS DAUGHTERS AND HIS TRIPLET
GRANDKIDS.
>> AND, BY GOLLY, THEY MIGHT KEEP THIS THING A-GOIN'.
>> FOR NOW, HE KEEPS IT GOING APRIL THROUGH THANKSGIVING,
POWERED BY THAT COLD, CLEAR WATER.
EVEN IN THE 21st CENTURY, IT'S STILL MAKING A SPLASH.
FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND," I'M BRYAN MIMS.
>> THE DELLINGER GRISTMILL IS ON CANE CREEK ROAD FOUR MILES EAST
OF BAKERSVILLE AND IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC
PLACES.
IT'S OPEN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND MONDAY AND TUESDAY, 10:00
A.M. TO 4:00 P.M.
YOU CAN CALL JACK DELLINGER AT 828-688-1009 OR GO ONLINE TO
dellingermill.com.