“[C]ontext matters–history doesn’t change, but our understanding of it does.” ~ Susan Allen Kline
The water at the head of any holler is a small stream, growing wider with each tributary along the way. Hardburly’s little creek was no different except during The Great Flood, as I will forever call it, where even the smallest stream turned into a raging torrent. In Hardburly, the road follows the old rail line that follows the creek. The old rail reveals itself periodically as it weaves in and out of the roadway. In this slight curve near the head of Hardburly, The Great Flood saw fit to reroute the little creek, creating this attraction. Will the transportation department shore up the missing road and leave the rail dangling? Will they dispose of the exposed rails, in whole or in part? Will they let gravity and nature take it in due course? I hope they leave the rail just as it is, route the road slightly away from the creek, and watch nature do the rest. It’s visually unique, and it seems worth saving for that alone.
Leave a Reply