Magnolia Flouring Mills to undergo accessibility improvements

Paige Bennett, The Repository
·2 min read
Stark Parks is using a $571,000 state grant to redevelop the Magnolia Flouring Mills in Magnolia. The structure, built in 1834, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Stark Parks is using a $571,000 state grant to redevelop the Magnolia Flouring Mills in Magnolia. The structure, built in 1834, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

MAGNOLIA – Stark Parks wants to make the Magnolia Flouring Mills more accessible using new grant funds.

The county parks district netted $571,000 in a state capital grant to put toward the continued redevelopment of Magnolia's grain mill.

"We've done lots of rehabilitation to the building itself, but we really wanted to make that building accessible and usable for the general public," said Sarah Buell, projects and administration manager at Stark Parks.

Stark Parks has made improvements to the Magnolia Flouring Mills in recent years. The agency previously received $1 million in state grant funds for foundation work and electrical service upgrades, with the ultimate goal of preserving the old mill as a tourism destination.

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Buell said this grant will focus on improving accessibility on the mill's first floor and parking lot.

"The first floor is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible," she said. "The parking is not very defined or accessible. And we get groups with elderly folks, we get groups with younger kids. The schools come, and they will do smaller tours there. So that is really our main focus of this phase."

The agency plans to work with an architect to determine the most cost-effective way to make the mill more accessible. This may include adding ramps and guardrails to the first floor, as well as simple exhibit demonstrations.

"We have huge dreams about getting access to all levels of the building, but I think with the funding level, we're going to focus on that first floor experience," Buell said.

The first floor includes the areas where product would have been delivered by farmers, as well as weights and measuring stations and cups and elevators.

"There are so many stories to tell on that first floor, so we said, 'Let's focus on really getting the public access to that,'" Buell said.

She said the initial design process will likely take place over the winter. She estimated the final design process will happen in 2023 and construction will occur in 2024.

The grant is being overseen by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Buell said it's been a unique experience working on the Magnolia Flouring Mills project and that it wouldn't be possible without the support of the village.

The mill was built in 1834 by Richard Elson along the Sandy and Beaver Canal, according to Stark Parks' website. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 and was acquired by the county park district in 2005. The property is nearly five acres and located in downtown Magnolia.

"People all over the place just really love these old mills," Buell said. "It's really amazing how many people are passionate about preserving this part of our heritage and the story that kind of tells about the Magnolia community. So we think it's really worthwhile."

Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark Parks receives grant for improvements at Magnolia Flouring Mills