News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Rock Island State Park offered visitors a chance to learn about the park’s historic Falls City Cotton Mill Friday.
Park Ranger Josh Welch the mill represents the industrial history of Warren County. Welch said visitors can walk around a small section of the mill and see original artifacts, photographs, and demonstration pieces.
“A lot of people miss out on the history that the park has to offer,” Welch said. “So we’re trying to highlight and bring to the forefront the history of the park and teach people why it’s important. And that way if people care about it as much as we do they’ll help us preserve that history for future generations.”
Welch said the mill is one of the oldest textile mills in the county and oldest structures in the park. Welch said the mill operated from 1892 to 1902. Welch said park staff reinforced a portion of the floor so it is safe for visitors to stand on. Welch said park officials have wanted to show off the mill for a long time but they did not have the resources
“You can come in, stay as long as you like or you can pop in for ten minutes, twenty minutes and be on your way,” Welch said. “We do have restrooms available and parking available pretty close to the mill. So just be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. It’s supposed to be a little bit chilly tomorrow, so we don’t have any heating or anything like that inside the mill.”
Welch said the first event highlighting the facility came last June.
“We’re just trying to continuously grow it and add onto it as we gain momentum and offer this same event in the future,” Welch said.
Welch said the park plans to restore the mill and turn it into a museum in the future. Welch said part of that work would include improving the floors so that visitors can walk around the entire building.
“One of the main missions that we have in state parks is to grow stewards of the park,” Welch said. “And that starts by getting people to the park and educating them about the things that we care about and hoping that they leave caring a little bit more than when they arrived.”
