By Jo Ramsdell
Harold Ramsdell hung up the phone and turned to his son. “Bip, Tom White just called. He didn’t go into detail, but he needs all the help he can get down at the mill. I’ll make some calls, but Tom wants you to round up as many kids as you can. Take your bike, and we’ll all meet at the mill as soon as possible.”
Tom White, owner of the Scotts Mill, was faced with a major catastrophe when he arrived at the mill that morning. After years of use, the historic dam finally broke through. The huge mill pond had drained down to the width of the old stream bed. Everywhere Tom looked, pond life could be seen flopping in the newly exposed muck.
Going into military mode, Tom sounded the alarm. Having called a few folks, like Harold, the word spread like wildfire. Volunteers began showing up in droves, but they were unprepared mentally for the devastation they encountered. As Bip and his bike recruits stopped at the edge of the pond, they exchanged looks of disbelief. While the adult volunteers assisted Tom along the dry shoreline, it was the children of Scotts who played a most important role. The weight of the grown-ups would have mired them in the mud, whereas the lightweight youngsters were more or less able to walk on top, without sinking in too far. While giving orders, Tom turned to the kids, “Okay, Bip! You and the others do what you can, but be careful and watch your step.”
Huge round horse water tanks were trailered in and positioned off to the side. The kids began rescuing the fish, turtles, and snakes, one at a time. As they reached dry land, they handed them off to their parents and neighbors, who, in turn, placed the critters safely into the tanks. It’s unimaginable how many freshwater animals’ existence depended on the well-being of the Scotts Mill Pond.
Harold Ramsdell hung up the phone and turned to his son. “Bip, Tom White just called. He didn’t go into detail, but he needs all the help he can get down at the mill. I’ll make some calls, but Tom wants you to round up as many kids as you can. Take your bike, and we’ll all meet at the mill as soon as possible.”
Tom White, owner of the Scotts Mill, was faced with a major catastrophe when he arrived at the mill that morning. After years of use, the historic dam finally broke through. The huge mill pond had drained down to the width of the old stream bed. Everywhere Tom looked, pond life could be seen flopping in the newly exposed muck.
Going into military mode, Tom sounded the alarm. Having called a few folks, like Harold, the word spread like wildfire. Volunteers began showing up in droves, but they were unprepared mentally for the devastation they encountered. As Bip and his bike recruits stopped at the edge of the pond, they exchanged looks of disbelief. While the adult volunteers assisted Tom along the dry shoreline, it was the children of Scotts who played a most important role. The weight of the grown-ups would have mired them in the mud, whereas the lightweight youngsters were more or less able to walk on top, without sinking in too far. While giving orders, Tom turned to the kids, “Okay, Bip! You and the others do what you can, but be careful and watch your step.”
Huge round horse water tanks were trailered in and positioned off to the side. The kids began rescuing the fish, turtles, and snakes, one at a time. As they reached dry land, they handed them off to their parents and neighbors, who, in turn, placed the critters safely into the tanks. It’s unimaginable how many freshwater animals’ existence depended on the well-being of the Scotts Mill Pond.
However, the wildlife was not the only ones affected. For over 30,000 years, ground flour has been an essential staple for humanity. Those living in and around Scotts were also dependent on the mill. All involved with the dam that day knew how crucial it was to rebuild it as quickly as possible. No time was spared. The Scotts Mill Pond disaster occurred sometime before Oct. 5, 1957. On the day the dam reconstruction was completed, Phil White recalls that Roy Coburn wrote that date in the fresh cement.
The White family had owned the Scotts Mill since 1879, when W. J. White purchased it from Sevetus F. Bathrick. Their dedication to serving the Scotts community and the surrounding area was well known. In 1920, Tom and his brother, Ralph White, became the new owners. Their partnership continued until Ralph died in 1954. Tom remained as the sole owner until his death in 1971.
The day that the dam gave out in 1957 is but a vague memory, recalled by only a few. Nonetheless, it is also an important part of Scotts’ history that has now been recorded for all time. (tee-hee!)
(Note: Kalamazoo County acquired the Mill and the surrounding property in 1973. It was then opened to the public as a county park in 1976.)
The day that the dam gave out in 1957 is but a vague memory, recalled by only a few. Nonetheless, it is also an important part of Scotts’ history that has now been recorded for all time. (tee-hee!)
(Note: Kalamazoo County acquired the Mill and the surrounding property in 1973. It was then opened to the public as a county park in 1976.)
