The Malcolm McMillan Blue home was built over 170 years ago when the Sandhills was known as "The Pine Barrens" because it consisted of sandy hills covered with giant virgin pines, barren of undergrowth, and of settlers struggling to carve a home in the wilderness. It is one of the few remaining examples of 19th century Scottish homes which dotted the area. The 1825 farmhouse along with the grist mill, stable, corn crib, tobacco barn, water tower and windmill complete the farmstead.

Malcolm was married in 1833 to Isabella Patterson whose grandfather received a King's grant for land in what is now Aberdeen in 1768. She died within a year and he later married Flora Ray. They raised seven children on the farmstead.

Malcolm Blue became very prosperous in the Naval Stores industry. He owned more than 8,000 acres including the present day Pinehurst Race Track and the western boundary of Fort Bragg. He tapped the pine trees for rosin which was refined into tar, pitch and turpentine. He also was active in the community and served as an Elder in the Bethesda Church for 40 years and Clerk of Sessions for 16 years, donating the land where the current "old" church now stands. The area surrounding Old Bethesda Church and the Malcolm Blue house became known as Blue's Crossing.

Over 2,000 children visit the farm during school children's day each year to listen to the storytelling and to see puppet shows and craft demonstrations.

The 10 acre farm is the site of one of the largest and most popular traditional festivals in the region which is held annually on the last weekend of September. Some of the crafts and skills are pottery, bullet and basket making, metal and wood working, carving, spinning and weaving and candle and soapmaking. Farm animals fill the stable and a petting farm, pony and wagon rides are available for the young and the young at heart.

Folk and country musicians and dancers entertain throughout the 3-day event. In the meadow Civil War reenactment troops are encamped and hit n'miss steam engines are demonstrated. The festival has become one of the best inter-generational events in North Carolina.

The Malcolm Blue Farm is a Community Heritage Project, certified by the Regional History Sites Program of the NC Department of Cultural Resources. The Society received the Governor's TAKE PRIDE IN NORTH CAROLINA award in 1995, the only such group in the state to be so honored. The Farm and Museum have been designated by the NC Civil War Tourism Council as part of the NC CIVIL WAR THEME TRAILS.

The purpose of the Society is to interpret nineteenth century life of Moore County through the collection, preservation and utilization of artifacts significant to the rural history of Moore County, through folklife programs that demonstrate the culture of the area and through agriculture demonstrations that show the methods, crops and farm activities typical of the early pine barrens life.

The farm and museum are owned and operated by the Society. Contributions and group reservations are accepted at PO Box 603, Aberdeen, NC 28315-0603. Telephone (910) 944-7685, (910) 944-7558 (Museum) or (910) 944-9483

 

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