Larry A. Smail's Blog

Cherry Run

On December 23rd, I needed some walk time. One area I visited was my father’s old homestead. I was last here to walk around 35 years ago, if not longer. This home site was, and is, along US 422 at the Cherry Run Intersection, as known by the locals.

The house was behind these big trees.

The house is long gone. All that is remaining are the foundation stones. the foundation is thick with brush, so getting any photos of it was impossible. I remember the house. There are pictures of my cousin, Donnie , and I, setting in a rocking chair while in the house. We were very young.

Old apple tree.

I went in the house some time later after the last residents moved out. they had left the rooms filled with garbage, smashed the walls, and windows.

A view looking north from the house.

The barn foundation is still visible as well. the foundational stones are currently on the south (Right) side of 422.                                  

Barn foundation.

Remnants of the old orchard  are still present. Old, ancient-looking, apple trees are still growing near the watercourse of Cherry Run. Pruning has been absent for over sixty years.

Bridge where old US 422 was.

Just a short jaunt below the barn foundation one can see an old narrow bridge. Vegetation is growing on the bridge’s surface. A well used deer trail, also, crosses the bridge. This was the old US 422. I think the bridge may have been in use by 1930.

Just being there brought back many memories of my family. I sure would like to go back in time to see the place in the day. My grandmother left in the late 1950 time frame. My grandfather had died in 1950.

Time passes on!