In 1824, a transplanted Marylander named William Cooley with his family settled on the north bank of New River near the forks. He immediately went to work building not only a large home, but also an impressive manufacturing plant to process the thick roots of the cycad fern known first to the Indians and then the new settlers as “coontie.” The roots of the coontie plant were grated, squeezed, and sifted – becoming flour to make a thick, watery gruel the Indians called “sofkee,” a staple of their diet. The flour was also used to make wafers and biscuits for ships at sea because of its non-spoiling characteristics. Until properly processed, however, the coontie root contains a deadly poison.
While the Indians relied on many busy hands to wash, pound, and sift the roots, removing the toxins and converting what remained to fine flour, Cooley’s plant used New River’s swift current to turn a water wheel, effectively powering mechanical grinders and sifters. With its three-man crew, the plant could manufacture 450 pounds of coontie flour a day. The plant also featured a 50-foot wharf where schooners were loaded with bags of processed coontie for shipment to Key West, then on to northern and European ports. With the flour selling at 8-to-16-cents a pound, Cooley’s coontie plant provided a handsome profit.
But Cooley’s idyllic life on New River would soon be cut short. For the rest of the story and more, please buy Legends & Lore of Fort Lauderdale’s New River, available now, signed by the author, for $21.99 plus tax with free shipping. Click this link to PayPal where you can safely and conveniently purchase the book with any major credit card. https://tinyurl.com/yckrc4bf
