Cones Mills, Ohio facts for kids

Cones Mills is what people call a ghost town in Delaware County, Ohio. A ghost town is a place where almost no one lives anymore. This often happens because the businesses that kept the town going closed down. Cones Mills was once a busy community located in Thompson Township.

What Happened to Cones Mills?

Cones Mills was once a very successful place. It was even known as Pickrell's Mill for a time. But then, a big problem happened: the main business, Cone's woolen mill, burned down. A woolen mill is a factory that makes cloth from wool.

After the mill was destroyed, other local businesses also started to close. They didn't have enough customers or work. Because of these closures, the town's hopes for the future faded, and it slowly became a ghost town.

Where Was Cones Mills Located?

This community was built along an important route called the old military road. This road was about one mile north of a spot called Delsaver's Ford on the Scioto River. A "ford" is a shallow place in a river where people and animals can cross.

The location where Cones Mills stood was also where the southern edge of Thompson Township met the Scioto River. Being near a river and an important road helped the town grow at first.

How Cones Mills Grew and Changed

Before Cones Mills became well-known, there was an older community nearby called Patterson. Patterson was also on the old military road, a little further north. It was located at the mouth of Fulton Creek.

However, Cones Mills grew bigger and more important than Patterson. Because Cones Mills was doing so well, Patterson's post office closed. A new post office then opened in Cones Mills. This post office was inside a local store and stayed open until the 1880s.