Moore Mill, the first mill near what would later be named Hooker Falls

Hooker
Falls is a well-loved recreation destination in DuPont State Forest. During the
early settlement of what is now Transylvania County, it was seen as a more
functional location. Though the original ownership date is not known, the first
recorded owner of Hooker Falls was Clinton Moore and his wife Sallie, who owned
property on Steel’s Creek, Little River, James Johnston Creek, Green River, and
Crab Creek. Moore operated a grist mill known as Moore Mill at what is now
called Hooker Falls for many years. In 1870, his son William purchased the
property and continued to operate the mill. The deed stipulated that Clinton
Moore and his wife Sallie would still be allowed to use the mill after the land
sale. 

Postcard showing Hooker Mill, the second mill built near Hooker Falls

In
1882 all the property surrounding the mill was sold to John W. Hooker and his
brothers Spencer and Edmund by William Moore and his wife Sarah. John was the
only one of the three brothers to stay in the area; Edmund and Spencer moved to
South Carolina. John Hooker built a cabin on the property as well as a second
mill on the opposite side of the river, known as Hooker Mill. Reports claim
that the cabin remained intact until the early 1940s, though the original
location is unknown. 

Hooker
sold the land where Hooker Falls is located to Tench Coxe in 1910. The sale
included the mill and all its fixtures. Coxe also owned land in the area that
was dubbed Buck Forest. In 1956 Coxe sold much of his land, including the piece
that included Hooker Falls and the two mills, to the DuPont corporation. It is
said that the millstones remained for many years, only being removed in the
early 1970s.  Hooker Falls
remained the property of DuPont until 1997 when it was sold to the state and
became part of the DuPont State Forest. 

Photographs and information
for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room,
Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Local History
Librarian Laura Gardner. For more information, comments, or suggestions,
contact NC Room staff at [email protected] or
828-884-1820.