Over one hundred years ago, these mountains were logged and pastured. During the later half of the 1800's, iron ore mining came to East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. The Crab Orchard Mining Company operated an iron ore mine here, with a spur from the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina railroad carrying raw ore to Cranberry, N.C. for refining. Below where the mill now sits stood a trip hammer forge using a five hundred lb. hammer connected to a water wheel; the hammer was lifted a few feet, tripped, and then fell on the ore. Across the river stood a smelter that melted ore using charcoal from American Chestnut trees. Ingots were made by pouring the hot ore into molds dug in the sand. A two story commissary stood where the mill now sits, selling dry goods and supplies to miners, with sleeping quarters on the second floor.