NATIONAL REGISTER Historic status sought for Mill Creek Park

The application is for all of the park north of U.S. Route 224, except Fellows.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mill Creek MetroParks is applying to have most of Mill Creek Park placed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.
The initial application, prepared on behalf of the Mill Creek Park Foundation, was submitted in early March to the Ohio Historical Society, which will evaluate it and conduct a hearing on it at its Columbus headquarters in August, said Carol Potter, the park district's development and marketing director.
"A large section of the value of Mill Creek to the community lies in its history," Potter said. National Register status would secure the park "in its due place in history, as well as, hopefully, provide for some improved fund-raising or grant-obtaining abilities," she added.
If OHS favors the application, it will recommend historic district status for the park to the National Register in Washington, which, Potter said, rarely turns down a recommendation from a state historical society. Potter said she hopes a decision can be made by the end of this year.
The application is for all of Mill Creek Park north of U.S. Route 224, except Fellows Riverside Gardens, which isn't old enough to qualify, Potter said. Anything to be included must be at least 50 years old.
Qualifying features
Among the features Potter says qualify the park for the National Register are the fact that it became Ohio's first park district in 1891, and that it contains the early 19th Century Old Log Cabin, the 1821-vintage Pioneer Pavilion, the 1830-vintage Mill Creek blast furnace ruins, and the restored 1845-vintage Lanterman's Mill.
Pioneer Pavilion is a former woolen mill. The blast furnace ruins next to the pavilion are under an archeological excavation coordinated by Dr. John White, a Youngstown State University anthropology professor.
The application was prepared by historian Rebecca Rogers of Poland, with research assistance by Dr. Rick Shale, a YSU English professor and author of the book "Idora Park: the Last Ride of Summer." Rogers prepared the application that earned the Forest Glen residential area of Boardman historic district status on the National Register.