Whatever the
answer to the mystery, there is no evidence found
that water power was ever produced by the Cook's Dam
project. The mill pond and nearby "Cook's Grove"
did, however, provide an excellent setting and popular
location for town picnics and other local outings.
This is evidenced in part by a news report of the
mid 1890's.
"The eighth
reunion of the Barber family was held here in Stephen
Cook's Grove on Wednesday afternoon, September 5th
..... This grove was planted by Stephen and Wakeman
Cook over fifty years ago, who brought the trees out
of the woods on their backs."
Another news
article of the period stated"
"Saturday's freshet was the largest ever known
here! Many bridges were carried away. Stephen Cook's
dam was washed away. This dam had withstood the floods
of fifty years." This news was followed by: "A
project to build a new dam and form a lake of 300
or 400 acres at Stephen Cook's is being agitated.
It is hoped that it is carried out."
Stephen, the
last surviving brother, was eighty years old in 1896
and soon passed away. The breached dam with it's pond
was never re-established. As far as is known, the
remains of an old water wheel still lie disintegrating
in the mud beneath the water.
The Cook Monument
in East Cemetery
