End of an era for Blue Fly house

NORWALK — A structure that has stood at the southeast corner of Ohio 18 and Ohio 601 for nearly two centuries is scheduled to be demolished, bringing an end to one of the area's longest-standing homesteads. The Mahl family, who have owned the property known as the Blue Fly Inn for generations, said the decision follows safety concerns created by the nearby roundabout. Shortly after the traffic feature was completed, a vehicle crashed into the home. "The roundabout project has forced our family to vacate the home due to safety and security concerns with the roundabout being so close," Kevin Mahl said. "Within a very short time of the roundabout being complete, we had a car crash into the house." Local historian Henry Timman has written extensively about the property over the years and has a personal connection to the area, having been born in the neighborhood where the house stands. Timman said the crash ultimately sealed the building's fate. "The guy driving the car was intoxicated and drove through the roundabout, not around it, and when his car hit the building, it did a tremendous amount of damage," Timman said. "After the accident, the building was so damaged that there was no realistic way to keep it. It had to be demolished." Demolition is expected to begin today. The large white house has long been recognized as a landmark in Townsend Township, situated at a well-traveled intersection between Norwalk and Wakeman. It sits kitty-corner across the roundabout from Summit Motorsports Park. 'Sorry to see it go' In a letter reflecting on the building's past, the Mahl family described it as a "storied legacy" tied closely to the development of the region. The property's roots trace back roughly 185 years, when American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, better known by his pen name Josh Billings, acquired the surrounding land that became known as Blue Fly Corner. The family noted that Billings' ownership places the writer "directly in the chain of title for one of the most storied corners in the Firelands region." After the land was sold, William Thompson built the Blue Fly Inn & Tavern in 1849. The tavern served travelers and teamsters hauling grain to Milan during the canal era. Following the Civil War, the building transitioned into a private residence but remained a gathering place for the community, hosting dances, weddings, receptions and holiday celebrations, according to the letter. The home was purchased by the Mahl family in 1915, when Victoria and Henry Mahl purchased the property and farmland that became known as Blue Fly Farms. Multiple generations of the Mahl family lived in the house over the decades since. "As the Blue Fly is set to be torn down, we, the five generations of the Mahl family, are proud and thankful to have been part of the storied legacy," the family wrote. For the Mahls, the home represents more than architecture; it witnessed both the passage of time and the changing dynamics in northern Ohio. "The Blue Fly truly has been the ultimate witness of time and keeper of stories," the letter states. Timman said while the loss is notable, the circumstances left few alternatives. "I'm sorry to see it go but it can't be avoided, nothing lasts forever," he said. "With a house this old, you can't just rebuild it; it would need updating, and houses built in this way just aren't something you see much of anymore." Mahl says he hopes the structure will be remembered even after it is gone and that its importance will remain part of the county's historical record.