Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, the five-story Magnolia Flouring Mills preserve the history of the small town, agricultural communities of rural Stark County. Built in 1834 by Richard Elson along the route of the Sandy & Beaver Canal, this iconic landmark remained in the Elson family for 171 years before being acquired by the Stark County Park District in 2005.Corn meal, animal feed, and various seeds are sold.
The 4.97-acre property in downtown Magnolia includes a segment of the Sandy & Beaver Canal behind the mill, the water rights for the canal, and Dam #6. The red wood structure is at the corner of Canal and Main Streets (Rt. 183) and will serve as a trailhead for the future Sandy & Beaver Canal Trail and the Pleasant Valley Trail.
A visit to the mill showcases how innovation, transportation, and community connections transformed the Magnolia Flouring Mills from small town mill to nationally recognized producer, capable of winning gold medals at two World’s Fairs! Visitors to the mill will see a variety of milling techniques and equipment from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.