In the southeast corner of Stark County, Magnolia is a tiny town with an interesting history. The mill was built in 1834 by Richard Elson along the route of the Sandy & Beaver Canal, and the railroad also extended a line with a stop just behind the mill as another method of transporting goods. The Magnolia Flouring Mills remained in the Elson family for 171 years before being acquired by the Stark County Parks District in 2005. They now offer tours and we visited during an Open House this past weekend. The beautiful Elson House next door was the family's residence that now serves as a bed and breakfast.
The cute town of Magnolia was so named because Richard Elson used to build riverboats and transport and sell goods all the way down to New Orleans. Last, he would sell his boat, and then walk back to Ohio on foot. One of the smells he enjoyed and experienced on his journeys was the fragrant Magnolia.
The Mill is interesting and the docents are knowledgeable and eager to share the history with visitors. We especially loved Tara! She was kind to my young son and answered all of his questions without batting an eye. Thank you for such a great experience here. Lovely place. read more