Historic Preservation Commissioners Shine Light on Historic Mill Building

The building at 11801 Main Street is unassuming with a sign “Cash for Gold” on the front. It is just feet away from Route 47 and is part of Huntley’s charming downtown.

Huntley will soon be the new owner of the white, two-story house.

It is anything but unassuming, local historical buffs say.

The structure dates back to the 1890s and was the Sawyer-Kelley mill. 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 kind of came with the building,” said Donna Britton, a member of the Huntley Historic Preservation Commission, of the Sawyer-Kelley mill.

Britton joined fellow commissioners Lonnie Oldham and Deb Waters Thursday night in addressing the village board about its plans for the building’s future. The three do not want to see it torn down, rather, they want the village to save the building and use it in some way.

Oldham participated in the Downtown Master Plan public hearings and it was evident that preserving that area’s historical charm was important, she said.

She urged trustees to take a bold step to maintain the historical mill.

“The village’s Downtown Master Plan identifies this property as a key parcel for redevelopment opportunities,” said Village Manager Dave Johnson in an email. “The ownership of the parcel was recently taken back by a bank.”

Huntley offered the bank $115,000 for the property, Johnson said. The property had been listed for $359,000 earlier this year. Last week, the village board unanimously voted to purchase the home. There was no discussion about its historic value.

There have been no decision about the building’s future; however, officials said the building is in bad shape. It would require a significant amount of money to renovate it, officials said.

Mayor Charles Sass said the village will take the commissioners’ statements into account. But, the fact is the building is not in good condition, he said.

“I would give it to those ladies for free if they came in and bring everything up to code,” Sass said.

Local historian and Huntley Preservation Commission member Jack Marino wrote on Facebook this week “there’s no method, just madness” to the village’s plans.

“This building, if renovated PROPERLY could be the savior for downtown business to return,” Marino wrote. “But instead there are plans to pock mark the downtown with loss of history and charm.”

While village officials have not publically discussed what will happen to the building, Brittan said, “We are not done.” Waters said continue to make a case to save the mill.