Dan River communities have great stories to tell
Thank you for the profile of the Dan River Basin Association in the Rockingham section (April 13). I would like to offer a clarification.
I was quoted as saying the area the association works in is a “collection of broken former mill towns.” These areas are definitely not broken. The communities along the Dan River are rich with historical and natural heritage. We do recognize that, in telling the story of the Dan River to people outside the region, part of the challenge is to change people’s long-held perceptions of the area as depressed former mill towns. Many of these mills have left a lasting historical heritage unique to the area.
One of these, the Nantucket Mill in Eden, is being considered as the location of a National Banjo Museum to celebrate the region’s role in the development of our country’s musical heritage.
We envision a day when people paddling the Dan River one day will visit the museum on the next. Many people along the Dan River are working hard to create new opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the wonderful natural and historical heritage of the region.
Brian Higgins
Eden