The Railroads + many names
Nestled on the eastern side of the Mohican River, Brinkhaven is a small village in Knox County with a rich history of ups and downs.
The area was initially occupied by Indian tribes along the Mohican River. After the War of 1812, white settlers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia began moving towards the area. In 1814, John Hibbits built the first house, and in 1838, Hibbits, who owned a quarter section of the land, mapped out a new village called Mount Holly. Others soon followed and settled in the area due to the beauty of the surrounding views. For many years, those few residents devoted their energies to farming, living their days in serene surroundings. When the post office was opened in 1844 Robert Long became the first Postmaster under the name Nonpareil. This was because there were other Mount Holly communities in the surrounding areas.
More change and progress was marching in as the Pennsylvania Railroad moved towards the settlement. George Gann, a descendant of Hibbits, offered a large section of his land holdings to the railroad if they would add a stop at the village. The railroad accepted his offer and moved in, naming their new station stop Gann, in honor of the man who had given the land. By 1872, this once-small settlement was officially incorporated under the name Gann. The village had a population of 200 by 1881 and became home to several other railroads: the Cleveland, Mount Vernon, and Columbus railroads running East and West; the Tuscarawas, Walhonding Valley, and the Ohio Railroads running North and South. The addition of these railroads made the village of Gann a thriving community.
However, the residents of Gann would soon see another change as the Gann family began feuding with the railroad. The origin of the argument is unknown, but locals have passed down through generations that it was a bitter struggle with no punches pulled. The last and final name for the village came in 1890 when the railroad suddenly and without warning renamed the stop Brinkhaven. The Scotland-born railroad executive used the name in remembrance of his hometown of the same name and rechristened the stop. This abrupt change confused many as long time residents still referred to the town as Mount Holly. By 1892, the United States Post Office officially recognized the village as Brinkhaven.
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A Village
on the rise
With people comes businesses, in 1840 a Grist Mill built by Robert Long, only made possible by the Mohican dam built by his brother John Long. There was no better water power in the county than that supplied by the Mohican, the dam of more than 300 feet in length turned the water into the race in sufficient quantity to keep an immense grist mill, a woolen factory and a saw mill in constant operation. By 1881 the grist mill was still standing and run by Isaac and James Thompson.
In 1850 Issac Means opened and operated the first general store. Business was slow with only local patrons until the first wagon bridge was built in 1858. Which paved the way for S. Day & Son who kept a general line of dry goods, groceries and hardware. They occupied the largest store room which with the warehouse at the rear was more than 120 feet long. Additional businesses where a buggy factory, a bank, two doctor offices, two drug stores, a saloon, barbershop, two hotels, three grocery stores, a dance hall, a restaurant and bakery, a blacksmith shop, a race track and three churches.
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The Catholic Church was built in 1880. The building still stands but was moved in the 1890s to the center of town. When the church was abandoned, the downstairs became a hardware store and the upstairs a community hall. A new Methodist Church was built in 1910 and the Presbyterian Church building was taken over by the Church of Christ.
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In the early 1890s the first 12th grade graduation from Brinkhaven High School was held. With the addition of the railroad stop, prosperity was brought to the quite farming community and growth was seemingly overnight.
The Flood of 1913
The promising future of Brinkhaven came to a halt when unexpected flooding caused devastation and hindered progress. During heavy rains from March 23 to March 27, 1913, rivers all over the state of Ohio flooded. Brinkhaven was one of the worst affected areas. The Mohican River overflowed and water rushed into the west side of the town, which was level with the river banks. Around 8-12 inches of rain fell, causing the water to rise and surround the higher area of Brinkhaven, while below it flooded the railroad stop, tracks, and 35 homes. Unfortunately, an unknown number of people lost their lives, and exact documentation on the missing and found has never been recovered. Passengers on Pennsylvania railroad trains stranded in Brinkhaven stated to local newspapers they saw houses being washed downstream.
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After the flood, postcards featuring messages and images of safety were sent out to nearby towns, alerting family and friends of the events that occurred. The main focus of these postcards was the story of Harry and Kate Workman and their six-month-old baby. The family resided in a house located next to the Thompson Mill, which was situated along the Mohican River. Despite the efforts of neighbors, friends, and family, the Workmans refused to leave their home. Unfortunately, the time for escape had passed, as the floodwaters became too high. Onlookers reported that they saw the Workman's house begin to collapse and witnessed the couple holding their infant child as they jumped from the house. The family was swept away in the floodwaters, along with other houses and the mill itself. Despite many residents joining the search for the young family, no bodies were found. Harry's brother, Charles Workman, was so desperate to find his brother that he went to Newcastle and met with a fortune-teller named "Old Gorum". The psychic told Charles that his brother and sister-in-law would be found "at the head of the mill race," while the child would be found further downstream. Charles Workman had his friends and neighbors gather to build a temporary rock dam to divert the waters of the Mohican away from the mill foundation, since the mill itself had been washed away. After diverting the water, they used portable pumps to drain the mill race. There Harry and Kate were found holding on to each other, just as Old Gorum had predicted. Sadly, despite an extensive search, the baby's body was never found.
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By March 28th, 1913 newspapers from all over were reporting on the devastation. The Mt. Vernon Democratic Banner announced that at least five were killed and the number was expected to grow. The newspaper headlines became a frenzy as they read; “Like Rats in a Trap were Brinkhaven People, When their Little Home Was Washed Away”, “Harry Workman, Wife and Child Lost Lives, Two Unidentified Bodies are Recovered”, “Most Appalling Condition in Knox County” “People Fleeing to Higher Ground”. Postcards showing images from the flood and aftermath also were sent out letting loved ones from all over know about those that were safe and those who lost everything.
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During a flood, the railroad tracks were damaged, and three businessmen became stranded in Brinkhaven. The locals cared for them and provided them with food and shelter. When the waters finally receded, they walked to Danville to search for someone with a wagon to take them to the nearest working train station. The men were so grateful with the hospitality of the people of Brinkhaven that they referred to it as "Brinkheaven" in their comments to the newspapers.
The beginning
of the end
As the floodwaters receded, so did the hope for the village's promising future. People began to rebuild but the momentum did not return to what it was. That was the beginning of the end for a town that saw nothing but progress for years.
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In the late 1920s, the Works Project Administration was formed to address the threat of floods, following the disastrous flood of 1913. The government engineers moved in and declared that floods must never again threaten the town. They designated an area of 38 homes with adjacent fields as a 'flood zone' and purchased them. The families living in these homes had to move away, and this marked the beginning of the end for Brinkhaven. Next, the Pennsylvania Railroad was forced to elevate its tracks above the condemned land, leading to the abandonment of the train station and the end of Brinkhaven as a stop. From there, the town's fortunes continued to decline. Merchants and businesses moved out, and both factories relocated to more suitable locations. The village started to resemble its original farming days. Despite the train station no longer being operational, the town still survived with a woolen mill, flour mill, gas station, dry goods, grocery store, doctor's office, race track, and saloon, as well as a dance hall. However, as these businesses and services left, so did the families. In 1934, the last class graduated from Brinkhaven High School, and by 1941 all students were moved to Danville, and the High School was demolished.
Soon Brinkhaven would take another hit when the state decided to change the direction of US 62 to bypass the village. People used to drive down Brinkhaven Road across the Mohican on Canal Street and then down State Street. Brinkhaven once again faced an unwanted change-US 62 no longer would run through the village but instead zoomed right by it. The small number of businesses that were still active then had to move or close.
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Today the history of the lost prosperity of Brinkhaven is just that, history. Brinkhaven has a new era approaching. Some businesses have returned, a new playground was built and various village updates are planned for later in the year. It won’t ever be to the level it once was, but residents are content to enjoy the quiet rural atmosphere that Brinkhaven offers. As there is a lot to be said for a peaceful life and the surrounding views are as beautiful as ever.