Huntley Buys Historic Sawyer-Kelley Mill Building
Village board authorizes purchase, but makes no decision on the building’s future.
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Huntley officials are closing on a historic building on Main Street _ the last standing mill in town _ today, but no decision has been made about what to do with the property.
The village purchased the building standing at 11801 Main Street for $115,000 from a bank, which had listed the property for $359,000 earlier this year. Huntley is using monies from its Municipal Buildings Fund to make the purchase.
Known as the Sawyer-Kelley mill, the building dates back to the 1890s. W.G. Sawyer and John Kelley ran the mill on Main Street as well as a mill on Route 47, the Marlowe Feed building which was torn down last year.
Huntley Historic Preservation Commission members have asked the village to save the building and use it in some way. While there has been speculation the village will raze the building, no definitive decision on what to do with the property has been made.
Trustee Harry Leopold asked the matter be put on an upcoming agenda. He suggested a compromise: razing the building for a parking lot but creating a small park on the property with some kind of monument to Huntley’s historic fathers.
Trustee Pam Fender went on record Thursday saying she did not want to see the building torn down.
“We will have to have a discussion about it,” Mayor Charles Sass said.
Rob
7:03 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
How about using it as the permanent location for the farmers market? Rent spaces inside that are open partime hours during the week, to creat enough income to cover the expense of the building and use that parking lot and area for outside vendors in the warm months....? Year around farmers/craft/antique mall? Just thought, you could keep the historical corner telling the building history and return it to it's original decor. I bet you could fit 30+ spots in there for local vendors to rent and make it look like an old mill or general store....could be a really cool spot.
Ronda Goldman1
8:01 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
What a wonderful idea, Rob! The Huntley Historical Society could have a space to showcase their collections( museum). It would draw people who love history to the downtown.
Carol
5:18 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2012
I love Rob's idea. That would be a perfect use for that building.
salvatore barone
8:43 pm on Sunday, August 12, 2012
We need to preserve history, not destroy it. It would be a excellent place to display huntleys history to all the younger people of the area.
Debbie Cords
8:08 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Rob's idea is great! I would love a place like that in the cold weather months. Let's save our history instead of tearing it down for a parking lot!!