By Larry Coonrod, Lebanon Express writer | Posted: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 12:00 am
Members of a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the landmark Scroggin seed warehouse in Lebanon find themselves in a curious position; they own a building they are not allowed to enter until they pay for the land underneath.
The Scroggins Mill Rural Heritage organization took possession of the 127-year-old building on Fourth and West Sherman Street from Linn County in April. The group plans to turn the building into a museum and office space with a large portion of the land dedicated to a park, community gardens and an outside event venue.
Before any work can begin on the building, the nonprofit must first buy or lease the land the structure is on from the Union Pacific transportation company.
Ray Weldon, president of Scroggins Mill Rural Heritage, said he was surprised when Union Pacific recently accepted an offer of $120,000 for the land. Although the deadline for meeting that offer has passed, Weldon is confident the land will not be sold to another buyer because of its entanglement with the Scroggin building.
They are currently allowed to enter the building for survey and other work related to the purchase of the property, Weldon said.
The group is applying for grants, has held one fundraiser and has another scheduled for Jan. 31, a barbeque rib dinner and silent auction at the Lebanon American Legion Club.
Weldon said he is concerned that the current economic situation may make obtaining grants more difficult.
Weldon, a Lebanon city councilor, is disappointed that the city has shown a reluctance to support the preservation project.
"We're not asking for money. All we're asking for is the city to recognize us and say they approve of it," Weldon said.
Pete Boucot, secretary of the Scroggins group, sees an opportunity in the mill to increase local tourism, pointing out that although Sweet Home, Albany and Brownsville all have museums, Lebanon does not.
The Scroggins organization has been in contact with the Lebanon Museum Association, which does not currently have a building, about displaying its items at the building when it is restored.
"Lebanon is uniquely positioned. We have a historic cemetery and many, many historic homes," Boucot said. "We could really roll out historical districts in this town and attract a lot of tourism dollars."
Thieves have broken into the building twice in the past several months and stolen metal and other fixtures. At this point, there is nothing left inside worth stealing, Boucot said.
During its long history, the Scroggin building has been used as a grain storage facility, feed store, cold storage facility for strawberries and a turkey processing plant. The structure last saw commercial use in the 1970s.
Of particular interest to railroad historians are the two wooden refrigerator railcars, first brought to the site in 1937 for cold storage of turkey carcasses. The cars, built somewhere between 1906 and 1932, are believed to be two of only a dozen still in existence.
For more information on the Scroggins Mill Rural Heritage preservation effort or to help, visit the website www.scrogginsmill.org or contact Weldon at 401-3162. The group's next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5 at the Lebanon Senior Center.