Villages
If you look at a map of Union Township, you’ll see three small hamlets labeled. While they are still labeled on the County map, two of these are nothing more than that. Small red squares marked on a map with a handful of houses dotting the landscape. The US Census labels these as a populated place that is not a census designated or incorporated place having an official federally recognized name.
The first is Toots Crossroads. This area is at the
intersection of Canyon and Pebble Roads. It was never officially
incorporated and was most likely recognized for the one room
schoolhouse that sat on one corner.
The next similar area was Waterloo. This area is at the
intersection of Autumn and Alamo Roads and sits in the valley next
to a branch of McGuire Creek.
Again there are a few houses left to mark the area as well as
a pond known affectionately by the folks living there as Muck’s Pond
as it is owned by Henry Muck. At one time a schoolhouse sat on the
opposite corner from the pond and according to a former citizen,
there was a mill, a small general store and blacksmith there. One of
the early log homes still stands at the top of one hill standing
watch over the little valley.
Just two short miles from Waterloo was George Tope's saw mill and
gristmill, which were the beginning of the only Village in the
Township. There is no plat of this Village on record: but there was
a survey made for Jasper Tope and Cornelius Brackin on the 23rd
of September, 1867 -called Tope’s Mill. (Book of plats 1,
page 21.) Dolly McCort
renamed it Petersburg for Peter
Brackin, an early storekeeper. It was familiarly named Mudsock until
roads were improved.
Petersburg became quite a manufacturing center: Churn Powers,
Sleighs, Buggies and Wagons being made here. For many years it had
two general stores, two blacksmith shops, a gunsmith, a cider press
and a cooper shop. All of which were well patronized.
For many years one of the most popular and successful doctors in the
State, Dr Hiram G. Tope, practiced here. John R. King kept a hotel
for a short time. When the latter moved on, Mrs. Hiram Tope served
meals and cared for travelers so well that her home became one of
the most popular stopping places. Many schoolteachers boarded here.
At one point there was a
boot and shoe manufacturing business carried on in Topes Mill by the
Smith Brothers.
In the early days a popular distillery was located on what later
became the Ira and Jesse Brackin farm (1155 Canyon Rd SW).
Some of the early storekeepers at Petersburg General Store were
Messrs. McKee, Brackin, W. W. Fawcett, Pratt and Dr. Jasper Tope.
Dr. Tope sold the store to Joseph B. Chambers in 1894. After the
death of Mr. Chambers in August 1930, his wife, Anna M. Chambers
took over the business. The latter’s daughter, Mrs. Donald C.
Kennedy and her husband operated the store from Sept. 27, 1935 till
Sept. 13 1957, when it was sold to Mr. & Mrs. William Girt. Harold &
Blanche Hale operated the store from 1968-1976 when it discontinued
being a general store. Other owners Lee R. Bain, Vera J.Frisosky,
Joseph M. Hunter and Robert R. Snyder operated a part-time antique
shop till 2005 when Willard & Imogene Albert purchased the store and
converted it into a home.
The house sits behind the Petersburg General Store
View of Petersburg
early 1930’s before Rt. 332 was realigned
