History: The Old Mill Pond

Keeping Iowa History Alive
Erma DeRosear which recalls her memories of the Old Mill Pond in Primrose

The Old Mill Pond 

The Old Mill Pond was just south across from the two-story school house in Primrose in Harrison Township, Lee County, and in the winter time when it was cold enough for the ice to be solid, the students would run across the road during the noon hour and skate on the pond.   Most of us did not own skates so we just slipped around a lot.  Some of the young boys set animal traps out in the surrounding areas for skunks, mink, raccoon, etc.  They would sell the pelts and make an occasional dollar for spending money.  The skates they brought attached to their shoes and were tightened with a key.

I don’t believe the pond was very deep as it has filled in with mud.  But it may have a little secret story.  Ben Cook who lived north of Primrose loved to tell stories and he told me that after the Civil War (aka the War Between the States), there was a Civil War Cannon on display in the village.  The mothers of the children there wee afraid someone would get hurt around it and they pushed in into the old mill pond.  Very few people know that story and it would be a real treasure to find it.  Hopefully, some interested person will search for it.