We live in a rural area, very close to Raccoon Creek, which at
109 miles is the longest creek in Ohio. Raccoon Creek at one time boasted 13
mills. The mills used the power of the flowing water to turn large stone wheels
that ground wheat into flour. May 5 of
this year marked that last day for the last existing mill along the Raccoon. Located in the tiny village
of Cora, the mill was built in 1835 and was operated until 1928. Cora mill was
listed National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 10, 1981.
When I was young, our parents used to bring a couple of the neighborhood boys, my brother and
me to swim at the small park across the
creek from the mill. There was a small block building that served as a snack
shop at the park. This stands out for me as it was where I experienced my first Fudgsicle. I don’t have Fudgsicles very
often, but when I do, the days of swimming at Cora Mill come rushing back to me
as if it were yesterday.
More progress of note for Cora is the new bridge at the mill
site. The old bridge was in a sad shape as you can see from my photo. The metal
plates on the roadway had nothing under them but air and water. The old bridge
was replaced by a modern highway bridge that is just like the hundreds you’ve
driven over, so I won’t waste my time taking a picture.
The new bridge,
completed in 2007, came in at just over $1.3 million. There was talk of
replacing the bridge with a wooden covered bridge, but that would have added
another $500,000. I guess that’s OK; it would have brought a lot more traffic
out my road anyway.
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