COOPERSTOWN

From "The Historical Album and Daily Program, Venango County Sesquicentennial, 1805 - 1955"

At one time there was a period in the history of Cooperstown when its population exceeded that of Franklin - this being during the period when it was the principal manufacturing center between Erie and Pittsburgh.

It was first the site of an Indian village. William Cooper, settled the tract of land on which, in after years, was built the town that bears his name. Being a millwright, Cooper threw a dam across the stream and erected a mill for grinding grain.

For a number of years it was known as Cooper's Mills, to be changed to the present name with the layout of the village in the year 1831. The town grew and with the increased population came the building of the Cooperstown Academy, said to be the best school of learning in the northern part of the state. It was at this school that many of the older citizens of Franklin received their learning.

Hotels, cloth dressing, woolen mills, grist mills and smelting furnaces caused this little community to be one of the industrial centers of the county in early days. Cooperstown was incorporated as a borough on November 25, 1858.

Oil was first discovered in this part of the county on September 6, 1860 when it was struck at a depth of 280 feet. Light production was obtained several miles to the north and also eastward toward Sugar Lake.

From "Venango County Panorama, A Salute To Its People!" 1983, VCHS, p. 13 & 97.

The Valley Mills stood for a century on Sugar Creek, two miles south of Cooperstown, erected in 1846 by John McKinzie. The mill was enlarged many times and was purchased by Francis McDaniel in 1881. About the turn of the century it was sold to Carl P. Mays and he continued the gristmill operation for about 40 years, noted for producing fine buckwheat flour. It was always operated by water power and never had electric. The mill was purchased by the Galloway United Methodist Church who dismantled it and utilized the lumber.

For many years, Cooperstown had a Harvest Home which was held on several different locations with a variety of activities including entertainment by the Cooperstown Cornet Band.

Transcribed by Penny Haylett Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net

Disclaimer:there may be errors due to transcription of information from both early and late (current contributors) work.