"our thanksgiving place": the peaks of otter

From a personal interview of Barton and Barbara Middleton, and Mary Mann-- written by Elizabeth Hunter, copywrite the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation

If every picture tells a story, it takes two to tell this one: a mother and daughter hand in hand, ascending a mountain trail. In the first picture, the daughter is a toddler. But the story begins with her mother, Barbara.

When Barbara's parents, Joe and Mary Mann, discovered the Peaks of Otter in 1972, they fell in love with the lodge, which Mary describes as a “little mountain inn” with “friendly atmosphere and wonderful food.”

The Middleton family on their first Peaks of Otter trip.

From left to right: Barbara Fichera, Michael Fichera, Mary Mann, Joe Mann, Barbara Middleton, Helen Moser, Susan Mann

Children: Chris Fichera, Elizabeth Middleton, Lauren Fichera

An annual event between 1972 and 1989, the Manns celebrated Thanksgiving every year at the Peaks of Otter with extended family. 

So happy were they with their visits, the Manns abandoned plans to build a vacation home in the mountains. The Peaks of Otter became their home.

Barbara and Elizabeth at the Peaks in 1972. "The Peaks of Otter became their mountain home -- and Thanksgiving place." -- Barbara Middleton

Year after year, Joe Mann rented the same six rooms at the Lodge.  

Being scarecrows at the Johnson Farm

Family members drove in from four states for Thanksgiving and Friday night dinners at the Lodge, hikes to Flat top, Sharp Top, and Harkening Hill, and picnics near Polly Wood's Ordinary.  

The Johnson Farm, "last one up is a rotten egg!"

Clothing and hairstyles may change, but smiles always remain.

Barbara remembers how her mother spent days assembling food to bring to the Peaks for the family picnic. No matter what the temperature, Elizabeth always insisted that the picnic be held outdoors.

Mary Mann and her sister, Helen Moser, prepare the first feast.

Clockwise from the bottom left:Thelma Middleton, Barton Middleton, Michael Fichera, Joe Mann, Beverly Fichera, Susan Mann.

“Sometimes we had to eat with our mittens on, but we always had our picnic” – Barbara Middleton  

Each year, as the weekend came to a close, Joe reserved the rooms for the following Thanksgiving. 

The whole caln lines up in front of a phalanx of stationwagons.

The family celebrated its last Peaks of Otter Thanksgiving two years before Barbara's father, Joe Mann died in 1991.  

Far right: Joe Mann at one of his last Peaks of Otter Thanksgivings.

In 1972, Barbara and her daughter Elizabeth, hand in hand, first led their family through the Peaks of Otter. More than 30 years later, the Middletons have decided to once again share the journey with their family.  

In November 2004, nearly 15 years after the last family Thanksgiving, Barbara and her family are resurrecting the Mann family's Peaks of Otter tradition. “We've booked the same six rooms we always had,” says Barbara's husband, Barton Middleton.  

Mother and daughter's hands grasp more than each other – they embrace a promise to always share the journey.

The entire family collection of the Middleton Family can be found in the Parkway Family Archives, search "Middleton"

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