Friday, October 31, 2008
By Jordan Cohen
MINERAL RIDGE — The chief engineer of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District said he anticipates talks with Austintown Township trustees about ownership of the historic Strock Stone House.
Tom Holloway told the MVSD board of directors on Wednesday that some improvements have been made on the grounds of the 177-year-old home on Mahoning Avenue near the Meander Reservoir, but repairs to the structure and its heating system are still on hold.
The MVSD, which sells treated bulk water from Meander Reservoir wholesale to about 300,000 customers through its member cities — Youngstown, Niles and McDonald — for resale, owns the home and has leased it to Austintown for $1 a year since 1991.
Under terms of the lease, the township is responsible for maintenance and repairs.
Trustee Warren “Bo” Pritchard said last month the township does not have the money to cover costs of replacing the heating system and repairing the structure and could only qualify for grants if it became the owner.
Trustees sent a letter to the MVSD in August stating their interest in terminating the lease and purchasing the house and grounds, but in September, the MVSD indicated it might look into regaining possession so it could apply for a grant from the National Park Service.
Holloway said no meetings have been scheduled between the two entitities, but he expects one may soon take place. “We’ll see what we can do with regard to that situation,” Holloway said.
The Strock Stone House, built in 1831, once served as a safe haven for runaway slaves before the Civil War as part of the Underground Railroad. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In another item at the meeting, a study of cold water algae in the reservoir determined that improved water quality may be responsible for the growth that gives off what is described as “nuisance levels of a cucumber odor.”
The nine-year study by Youngstown State University recommended the use of oxidants such as chlorine or activated carbon treatment to eliminate the odor.