The historic Mast General Store, Valle Crucis, North Carolina
I’m in North Carolina at our cabin enjoying my three grandchildren, my daughter and daughter-in-law and sweater weather. Well, it just doesn’t get much better than this. The only things missing are our three guys, Bob, Ryan and Harvey, all at home working hard.
Yesterday was chock full of activities. We spent time at the famous, original Mast General Store which has been in operation at the same location since 1883.  There are others in downtown Boone and Waynesville, but they cannot duplicate the charm and history of this historical building.
Laurel, 6, Alastair 18 months, Robert, 5. We have a 1988 photo of Rebecca sitting on this same swing drinking a soda. She attended a summer camp just down the road from the Mast General and Candy Barrel. After we picked her up from the healthy-eating camp, she chose this as her first stop.
This remnant of early 20th century mountain life features creaking wooden floors and stairs, shelves stocked with mason jars of homemade corn relish, pickles, blackberry jam and other preserves, bins of nails, sensible clothing, a vintage 1883 working post office, an ancient reach-in, waist high Coke cooler stocked with cold sodas.
Touring this old market was a great history lesson for Robert and Laurel.
To his mother’s relief, he spilled the almost full bottle shortly after the first photo was taken.
For Alastair, it was his first taste of soda, Cheerwine. He liked it. Continue reading
