Clipping:The Passing of Soper's Mill (about 1907)

SWEARINGEN, SOPER, HUGHES

Posted By: LInda H Meyers (email)
Date: 11/13/2008 at 12:38:37

The Passing of Soper's Mill

The old familiar landmark of Story county known for the last half century as Sopers's mill has passed into history, Mr. Swearingen, the man who owns the farm where it is situated in Milford township has moved it from its old site and will convert it into a barn. The mill was built fifty years ago and was at first a saw mill and was operated as such for about fifteen years when it was sold. It was then rebuilt and burrs put in, and for many years was the grist mill of the county. It was situated in a picturesque spot near a bend in the Skunk river whose current turned the wheels which ground the farmer's grain for miles around. During the last decade it has gradually grown into disuse on account of the shallow condition of the river, and about two years ago the dam gave way since which time it has been abandoned altogether. The mill standing near the roadside presented a rather spectral appearance to the casual passerby and reminded one of the ghost tales of its childhood. It has been many years since any improvements have been made on it and its weather beaten exterior has long since give up any trace of paint, its windows are all broken in and birds have long built their nests in its towering rafters. The place has been a favorite resort for picnic parties for a long time, the woods in the vicinity being particularly conducive to the enjoyment of a day's outing, and a ramble through the old mill, up and down its creaking stairway always formed a part of the days' pleasure. The place will still be visited by picnic parties, and the mill may still be seen, though it will have lost its identity in a measure.

---from an unidentified newspaper clipping