Tipp Roller Mill Project

Organizers of the Tipp Roller Mill Project have selected this Labor Day Weekend to kick off a project using volunteers to paint the late 1830s mill on the city’s east side.

The city’s main 175th celebration was held July 3-4 with a return to the past downtown, a parade and family activities at the City Park.

“This is saying to people, ‘Let’s get together to preserve a little bit of Tipp’s history,’ ” said Mike Nygren, a project leader and longtime city resident who works at Ginghamsburg Church.

To see if the project could get off the ground, Nygren said he contacted 10 locals with whom he’d worked on other projects to gauge interest. Most came right on board, he said, adding the project “is something tangible people can do.”

The team members include co-leaders Nygren and Matt Tarzinski along with Keith Long, Pete Schinaman, Brenda Mahaney, Chuck Wray, Doug Powell and Nick Hoover.

The volunteer effort will kick off on Friday, Sept. 4, with work scheduled each day through Labor Day, Sept. 7. Work times are set for each week that follows during September.

Volunteers will be asked to scrape and stain. The project will be divided into sections with the volunteers setting their work schedule during the project timeframe.

Skill and experience will determine the sections each team handles. The organizers realize most people involved will be amateur painters, Nygren said.

Teams will be asked to provide some equipment such as paintscrapers, 3- and 4-inch latex brushes, small paint pails, wire brushes, rages, safety gloves and surgical mouth masks. The project would provide red stain, scaffolding, ladders, drop cloths, caulking and glazing.

Participants will be asked to sign an insurance release form at the worksite. “Our top priority is to keep everybody safe,” Nygren said.

The mill has been owned by Steve and Sally Watson since 1989. Although the landmark is privately owned, the Watsons have worked to make it a community facility, he said.

“The idea is what they give back to the community. Steve has been instrumental in Tipp City,” Nygren said.

Those interested in more information and/or volunteering can email mnygren@tenballoons.com. The project can be followed on Facebook at Rollermillproject.