Cole-Perry Turning Mill
1780-1830
The ruins of the old dam are all that remain of the once busy Perry Turning Mill. This mill originally operated as a saw mill in a joint venture by Aaron Cole and Ezra Perry. Perry bought out Cole's share in he early 1800's, and raised the dam, and added a "tub wheel." in addition to the sawmill, a blacksmith shop was set up in the cellar, and a turning mill on the second floor, Here lathes operated by water power produced bobbins, butter moulds, tool handles, etc. In 1820 a flood in the river caused the newly raised dam to back up, covering a neighbor's land in water which ran down Ash Street. This resulted in a lawsuit. Soon after, the Perry's abandoned this site and moved their operations to Perryville.
Marker is on Ash Street, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
