the mill closed in 1922, and cummings had grown ill. the railroad was sold at a bankruptcy auction. each major railroad wanted the line, but they were all afraid of a bidding war, so they agreed to allow an independent company to win the auction unopposed. unfortunately for them, that independent company, assets realization of new york, had bought it for scrap value. residents and companies along the line and connecting railroads protested, and brought the case all the way to the supreme court, which ordered that it would not be abandoned. however, assets realization disobeyed the court and tore it up anyway in december 1922, leaving the florida railroad commission "no recourse but to declare the ocklawaha valley railroad abandoned".