I miss my Mountain home town of Hillsville, Virginia. If only I could be healthy enough to live there again. It is the ideal small town; not perfect, yet still ideal. The soft Appalachians envelop the town in a tender embrace. In the mornings, a dewy mist often blankets the mountains. As the sunrises through this mist, it looks almost surreal. At night, the stars cover the sky, the town lights not being enough to dim the starry skies. Besides, Hillsville is the only town in the county and there are no cities, so a large amount of people live amongst the mountain hollers [you should know this word if youre a local] and peaks. They are the lucky ones, truly able to bask in the majesty of Gods best [in my humble opinion] creation.
Life is easy and slow-paced in my hometown. The town rolls up the streets at 9:00pm, barring some school activities. Football games bring the town together. Though we have a few elementary schools, there is only one high school. There are traces of more wild and wooly days, though. Our historic old courthouse has bullet-holes in the steps. The town is a genuine historic district, with shop fronts reminiscent of the Mayberry days of that Andy Griffith show, which happened to be based in a town [which is now a city, Mt. Airy] located down the mountain from us. The Hillsville Diner is our small-town eatery of choice. There the service is good and the food even better. At red-checkered tablecloths, townsfolk sit and talk about life. During certain times of the year, parades march through. One of the highlights of the parade are the Shriner Hillbillies, in which some of the important townspeople dress up in outrageous hillbilly outfits and drive through town in beat-up jalopies, old tractors pulling even older outhouses on wheels. The county over from us has hillbilly-powered outhouse races. Both are sights to behold!
Life in my hometown revolves around church and school activities. People get together and see one another at church and school activities, where they otherwise wouldnt have. Townsfolk care about each other and are often willing to lend others a helping hand. Our Southern Hospitality is renowned. At the First United Methodist Church of Hillsville, a visitor always feels welcome and appreciated. The church offers a Nursery School, Bible Schools, Youth Groups, an after-school program, Choirs for all ages, and many Sunday School classes. One of the highlights of the church are the songs sang by the Nursery School kids when they visit, and the plays put on by the choir groups. For the kids in Carroll County, there is plenty to do. As a kid I was part of 4-H, the church youth group, Girl Scouts, OM (Odyssey of the Mind), Gymnastics, Ballet, Tap Dance, Jazz class, Soccer, and the Southwestern Virginia Dairy and Beef Club. Some other significant things that my over-stretched schedule didnt allow me to commit to were, Governors School, The FFA (Future Farmers of America) and of course, any other assorted sports. Some things I had to go to Galax (an independent city) at the Y to participate in, though. Galax offers some things to do that Hillsville doesnt, but not much. It is about a 30-minute drive from Hillsville.
On Labor Day Weekend, the Flea Market and Gun Show comes into town. Some like to think it is the largest flea markets in the U.S. It changes the whole atmosphere of the town. We become a bustling metropolis of flea marketers who have come to sell there wares, and tourists who have come to shop and buy, or just to take in the sights. With their fanny packs and sun visors, the people overflow into the streets and traffic is slowed and essentially at a standstill. When driving through, someone can be let out of the car to get a meal or even shop some, and get back in the car with ease. Since school buses cant get through the flea market traffic, the Labor Day Weekday is extra long. Thursday-Monday, kids are let out of school. The throng of people contains every conceivable sort of people, from various countries and parts of the U.S.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is not far from Hillsville. It is the perfect place to see what life used to be and still it in the country. Lovers leap is for the romantic at heart. Here you can get a spectacular view of the valley below. You can even stop and get some flour ground at the Mabry Mill on the Parkway. When leaving Hillsville, we take the interstate which is fairly close to Hillsville. (About 2 miles, give or take) Around the intersection there is a Farmers Market with fresh produce at excellent prices. One of the most beautiful sites in the world is seen driving down the mountain to Mt. Airy at night. You can see all the stars in the sky and the twinkling lights of the valley below. (Killer Mountain is a different story, the curves can kill you)
Even though people may leave Hillsville, they will always carry a part of it with them in their hearts. Though life may be rushed, hurried and impatient elsewhere; Hillsville remains a time portal to a simpler time. When driving through these city streets, people are patient and kind; often gracing one with a friendly wave. Paradise can't be much different from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia!
Visit Racal Flatts homepage. Their song Mayberry on the album Melt is about what life used to be like and still is in Hillsville.
