Column: Farewell to the Blue Fly

Editor's note: The Mahl family, who own the historic building on Ohio 18 and Ohio 601 known as the Blue Fly Inn, wrote this letter about the building's history as it's set to be demolished after a vehicle recently crashed into the structure. The letter is addressed to Huron County historian Henry Timman. Dear Mr. Timman, As you are the keeper of the region's history, we, the Mahl family, are writing to you to let you know we are preparing to say farewell to 1405 St. Rt 18 … the big white house on the corner, also known for almost two centuries as the Blue Fly. You have reported many times on the historical significance of the structure that started 185 years ago, when famed American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, better known by his pen name, Josh Billings, acquired the surrounding land that became known as Blue Fly Corner. Josh Billings was, at the time, a well-known Mark Twain-like literary genius famous for many sayings, "The Squeaky-Wheel-gets-the-Grease" one among the many. Billings' ownership deed places the American humorist directly in the chain of title for one of the most storied corners in the Firelands region. After Billings sold the land in 1840, the next chapter began as it was sold to William Thompson who in 1849 constructed a tavern & inn that took on a life of its own. It was known as the Blue Fly Inn & Tavern. It served teamsters hauling grain to Milan, whose canal at its peak in 1847 became the 2nd most active wheat-shipping port in the world. The busy port caused an unprecedented number of travelers and merchants to pass through the Blue Fly Corner. With a bar and restaurant on the first floor, the 2nd floor was a dance floor complete with a prominent fiddler's bench (still in the house). There are many reported stories of frequent rambunctious dances and parties upstairs, and even some speculation that other services might have been available as well. If only those old creaking floorboards could talk. The tavern's storied history is frequently cited in historical archives as one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Townsend/Norwalk area. After the Civil War, the Blue Fly Inn was turned into a private residence and yet even as a home it remained a central part of the community as the second floor continued to be rented out as a dance hall used to host neighborhood dances, weddings, receptions and holiday parties. This continued until 1915 when the Blue Fly Inn started a new chapter when Victoria Mahl (and husband Henry) purchased the home and farmland. Upon Henry's death in 1917, their young son Alphonse took over the farm which became the future homestead for him and his eventual wife Lucille. They went on to raise three children in the former Blue Fly Inn. The farmland surrounding the Inn was called Blue Fly Farms, which provided a means and way of life for the family. Upon Alphonse's passing in 1961, the widow, Lucille, was left to raise two boys and a ten-year-old daughter. The two boys, Richard and Gerald continued to own and operate the Blue Fly Farms as "The Mahl Brothers." The residence continued as Lucille's residence for over 60 total years and remained a deep-rooted cornerstone for the family. For decades, it was a central place where the family gathered, and a place where many front-porch swing consultations took place. After Lucille's death in 1991, the house was lived in by various grandchildren and great-grandchildren until the new ODOT roundabout forced us to vacate the house. So, Mr. Timman, 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. A legacy that started with Josh Billings, evolved to be the Blue Fly Inn, and then on to our family homestead for over a century. The storied legacy spans almost two centuries of history that has unfolded outside the windows of the Blue Fly as the horse drawn carriages turned into the first cars, and the plank roads turned into paved highways. The Blue Fly truly has been the ultimate witness of time and keeper of stories. It's hard to put into words the comfort of knowing these same windows once framed the sunsets our great-great-great-grandparents paused to watch. As the walls come down on the house, and long after the dust settles, let us never forget the stories and the legend that took place during those 185 years. As we prepare to transition this property to its next chapter, our family has been honored to serve as the stewards of such a significant piece of Huron County history, and we cherish the stories — both documented and rumored — that these walls hold. We hope the next chapter for the Blue Fly is as vibrant as its past, and we sincerely hope that you will find a spot in the historical archives for this epic structure to highlight the importance it was to the area's history for future generations to appreciate. Sincerely, The Mahl family