Qualla Boundary Miller
"The Irish Miller From Big Cove"
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, NC
Copyright © 2003 Cherokee Elementary
All Rights Reserved
Major McGee at the Mingus Mill
When Mr. Jerry Wolfe visited the Cherokee Elementary School fifth grade, he told a story about an Irish boy who moved with his family to the Big Cove area of Cherokee. This boy's name was Major McGee. Major found himself with no peers his own age other than the Cherokee boys and girls who lived in Big Cove. These boys spoke only Cherokee. Mr. Wolfe's father, Owen Wolfe, was one of those boys.
Major enjoyed being around the people of Big Cove. Soon he was playing with the children his own age. Along with the laughter, the children shared their language with this friendly red-haired youngster. Major began to learn the Cherokee language, and soon could speak it fluently and in the dialect of the Big Cove Cherokee. He and his friends spent hours conversing, playing, and working together in the ancient mountains of the Big Cove area. The Cherokee children called him Ma Sti, or Maj. His Cherokee name was U We Sti , or egg, because his job was to gather the eggs.
Major McGee's father, Ira McGee, owned a small mill at Mill Creek near Round Bottom. Major began helping in the mill when he was very young, learning to grind cornmeal and flour. He learned how the mill worked and how to keep it operating smoothly. He worked hard and learned quickly the trade which was to sustain him later in life.
Major McGee made quite an impact on the region of Cherokee. During the Depression Years, President Roosevelt set up the Civilian Conservation Corps, called the CCCs. Major went to work with the CCCs. Among the jobs he did was to help build the spit rail fences at Cades Cove and at Ravensford. He helped to build the slate roof at the park office and put wooden singles on the roofs of the buildings at the Pioneer Homestead at the park's entrance. Because of his fluency in the Cherokee language, he was the interpreter during the construction of the Fontana Dam.
Jerry told the class about an incident which happened after his father and Major Mcgee grew up. Major was working with the CCCs and went with the other workers to a store to purchase supplies. Owen Wolfe was in the store. The two best friends did not speak at first. Soon the store was filled with CCC workers. Owen and Major began to converse in the Cherokee language. The store grew silent, except for the conversation between Owen and Major. The white workers were amazed that the Irish man could speak Cherokee so well. Jerry was a small boy when this happened and he remembers it very well.
Major later worked for and retired from the Smokey Mountains Park service. He was instrumental in repairing and putting back into operation the Mingus Mill which is located at the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains Park. He ground mill there for sometime. The Park Service would send for him, and he would go there to work. Later, he was the miller at the Burgess Mill, called The Old Mill, on Highway 441 going into Cherokee. Perhaps during the 1960's your family visited Cherokee and stopped at The Old Mill. If so, perhaps you met the Cherokee speaking miller dressed in Red Camel overalls, a flannel shirt, and wearing a dark fedora hat. If indeed you did see that miller, you have met a part of the history of Cherokee and the Great Smokey Mountains.
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, North Carolina
"The Irish Miller From Big Cove"
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, NC
Copyright © 2003 Cherokee Elementary
All Rights Reserved
Major McGee at the Mingus Mill
When Mr. Jerry Wolfe visited the Cherokee Elementary School fifth grade, he told a story about an Irish boy who moved with his family to the Big Cove area of Cherokee. This boy's name was Major McGee. Major found himself with no peers his own age other than the Cherokee boys and girls who lived in Big Cove. These boys spoke only Cherokee. Mr. Wolfe's father, Owen Wolfe, was one of those boys.
Major enjoyed being around the people of Big Cove. Soon he was playing with the children his own age. Along with the laughter, the children shared their language with this friendly red-haired youngster. Major began to learn the Cherokee language, and soon could speak it fluently and in the dialect of the Big Cove Cherokee. He and his friends spent hours conversing, playing, and working together in the ancient mountains of the Big Cove area. The Cherokee children called him Ma Sti, or Maj. His Cherokee name was U We Sti , or egg, because his job was to gather the eggs.
Major McGee's father, Ira McGee, owned a small mill at Mill Creek near Round Bottom. Major began helping in the mill when he was very young, learning to grind cornmeal and flour. He learned how the mill worked and how to keep it operating smoothly. He worked hard and learned quickly the trade which was to sustain him later in life.
Major McGee made quite an impact on the region of Cherokee. During the Depression Years, President Roosevelt set up the Civilian Conservation Corps, called the CCCs. Major went to work with the CCCs. Among the jobs he did was to help build the spit rail fences at Cades Cove and at Ravensford. He helped to build the slate roof at the park office and put wooden singles on the roofs of the buildings at the Pioneer Homestead at the park's entrance. Because of his fluency in the Cherokee language, he was the interpreter during the construction of the Fontana Dam.
Jerry told the class about an incident which happened after his father and Major Mcgee grew up. Major was working with the CCCs and went with the other workers to a store to purchase supplies. Owen Wolfe was in the store. The two best friends did not speak at first. Soon the store was filled with CCC workers. Owen and Major began to converse in the Cherokee language. The store grew silent, except for the conversation between Owen and Major. The white workers were amazed that the Irish man could speak Cherokee so well. Jerry was a small boy when this happened and he remembers it very well.
Major later worked for and retired from the Smokey Mountains Park service. He was instrumental in repairing and putting back into operation the Mingus Mill which is located at the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains Park. He ground mill there for sometime. The Park Service would send for him, and he would go there to work. Later, he was the miller at the Burgess Mill, called The Old Mill, on Highway 441 going into Cherokee. Perhaps during the 1960's your family visited Cherokee and stopped at The Old Mill. If so, perhaps you met the Cherokee speaking miller dressed in Red Camel overalls, a flannel shirt, and wearing a dark fedora hat. If indeed you did see that miller, you have met a part of the history of Cherokee and the Great Smokey Mountains.
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, North Carolina
Qualla Boundary Miller
"The Irish Miller From Big Cove"
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, NC
Copyright © 2003 Cherokee Elementary
All Rights Reserved
Major McGee at the Mingus Mill
When Mr. Jerry Wolfe visited the Cherokee Elementary School fifth grade, he told a story about an Irish boy who moved with his family to the Big Cove area of Cherokee. This boy's name was Major McGee. Major found himself with no peers his own age other than the Cherokee boys and girls who lived in Big Cove. These boys spoke only Cherokee. Mr. Wolfe's father, Owen Wolfe, was one of those boys.
Major enjoyed being around the people of Big Cove. Soon he was playing with the children his own age. Along with the laughter, the children shared their language with this friendly red-haired youngster. Major began to learn the Cherokee language, and soon could speak it fluently and in the dialect of the Big Cove Cherokee. He and his friends spent hours conversing, playing, and working together in the ancient mountains of the Big Cove area. The Cherokee children called him Ma Sti, or Maj. His Cherokee name was U We Sti , or egg, because his job was to gather the eggs.
Major McGee's father, Ira McGee, owned a small mill at Mill Creek near Round Bottom. Major began helping in the mill when he was very young, learning to grind cornmeal and flour. He learned how the mill worked and how to keep it operating smoothly. He worked hard and learned quickly the trade which was to sustain him later in life.
Major McGee made quite an impact on the region of Cherokee. During the Depression Years, President Roosevelt set up the Civilian Conservation Corps, called the CCCs. Major went to work with the CCCs. Among the jobs he did was to help build the spit rail fences at Cades Cove and at Ravensford. He helped to build the slate roof at the park office and put wooden singles on the roofs of the buildings at the Pioneer Homestead at the park's entrance. Because of his fluency in the Cherokee language, he was the interpreter during the construction of the Fontana Dam.
Jerry told the class about an incident which happened after his father and Major Mcgee grew up. Major was working with the CCCs and went with the other workers to a store to purchase supplies. Owen Wolfe was in the store. The two best friends did not speak at first. Soon the store was filled with CCC workers. Owen and Major began to converse in the Cherokee language. The store grew silent, except for the conversation between Owen and Major. The white workers were amazed that the Irish man could speak Cherokee so well. Jerry was a small boy when this happened and he remembers it very well.
Major later worked for and retired from the Smokey Mountains Park service. He was instrumental in repairing and putting back into operation the Mingus Mill which is located at the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains Park. He ground mill there for sometime. The Park Service would send for him, and he would go there to work. Later, he was the miller at the Burgess Mill, called The Old Mill, on Highway 441 going into Cherokee. Perhaps during the 1960's your family visited Cherokee and stopped at The Old Mill. If so, perhaps you met the Cherokee speaking miller dressed in Red Camel overalls, a flannel shirt, and wearing a dark fedora hat. If indeed you did see that miller, you have met a part of the history of Cherokee and the Great Smokey Mountains.
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, North Carolina
"The Irish Miller From Big Cove"
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, NC
Copyright © 2003 Cherokee Elementary
All Rights Reserved
Major McGee at the Mingus Mill
When Mr. Jerry Wolfe visited the Cherokee Elementary School fifth grade, he told a story about an Irish boy who moved with his family to the Big Cove area of Cherokee. This boy's name was Major McGee. Major found himself with no peers his own age other than the Cherokee boys and girls who lived in Big Cove. These boys spoke only Cherokee. Mr. Wolfe's father, Owen Wolfe, was one of those boys.
Major enjoyed being around the people of Big Cove. Soon he was playing with the children his own age. Along with the laughter, the children shared their language with this friendly red-haired youngster. Major began to learn the Cherokee language, and soon could speak it fluently and in the dialect of the Big Cove Cherokee. He and his friends spent hours conversing, playing, and working together in the ancient mountains of the Big Cove area. The Cherokee children called him Ma Sti, or Maj. His Cherokee name was U We Sti , or egg, because his job was to gather the eggs.
Major McGee's father, Ira McGee, owned a small mill at Mill Creek near Round Bottom. Major began helping in the mill when he was very young, learning to grind cornmeal and flour. He learned how the mill worked and how to keep it operating smoothly. He worked hard and learned quickly the trade which was to sustain him later in life.
Major McGee made quite an impact on the region of Cherokee. During the Depression Years, President Roosevelt set up the Civilian Conservation Corps, called the CCCs. Major went to work with the CCCs. Among the jobs he did was to help build the spit rail fences at Cades Cove and at Ravensford. He helped to build the slate roof at the park office and put wooden singles on the roofs of the buildings at the Pioneer Homestead at the park's entrance. Because of his fluency in the Cherokee language, he was the interpreter during the construction of the Fontana Dam.
Jerry told the class about an incident which happened after his father and Major Mcgee grew up. Major was working with the CCCs and went with the other workers to a store to purchase supplies. Owen Wolfe was in the store. The two best friends did not speak at first. Soon the store was filled with CCC workers. Owen and Major began to converse in the Cherokee language. The store grew silent, except for the conversation between Owen and Major. The white workers were amazed that the Irish man could speak Cherokee so well. Jerry was a small boy when this happened and he remembers it very well.
Major later worked for and retired from the Smokey Mountains Park service. He was instrumental in repairing and putting back into operation the Mingus Mill which is located at the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains Park. He ground mill there for sometime. The Park Service would send for him, and he would go there to work. Later, he was the miller at the Burgess Mill, called The Old Mill, on Highway 441 going into Cherokee. Perhaps during the 1960's your family visited Cherokee and stopped at The Old Mill. If so, perhaps you met the Cherokee speaking miller dressed in Red Camel overalls, a flannel shirt, and wearing a dark fedora hat. If indeed you did see that miller, you have met a part of the history of Cherokee and the Great Smokey Mountains.
Source: Cherokee Elementary School, North Carolina
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