“Totally dangerous” is how Traci Barnett described the building. She said water damage created black mold throughout the building.
“We regret that it had to come down,” said Barnett, who added they contacted the South Main Street Historical District about the demolition plans.
Since buying the property for 2013, the Barnetts, originally from Baltimore, have dedicated their lives and financial resources remodeling the Sorg Mansion, built in 1887 by Paul J. Sorg, one of Middletown’s first industrialists and multimillionaires.
The three-story, 12-bedroom, eight-bathroom brick-and-stone Romanesque castle features 12-foot ceilings and fireplaces in every bedroom.
Traci Barnett, executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation, said they have replaced the slate roof, repaired the box gutters and internal gutters, restored the exterior stones to their original colors, repaired the detailed woodwork, painted walls, replaced wallpaper and purchased “historic lighting” for some of the rooms.
The renovations, she said, have required “a great amount of work” and have taken longer than expected. The mansion has received $212,500 in tax credits from the Ohio Development Services Agency, and the total project to renovate the South Main Street property is estimated at nearly $1.32 million.
When asked why anyone would spend time and money renovating an historical building, Barnett said, “I feel like we are just taking care of it. It belongs to the city.”
The Sorg Mansion was built 132 years ago, so Middletonians don’t remember a time before the mansion, Barnett said. Last year, when the Sorg was one of the 14 historic buildings featured in the South Main Historic District Candlelight Tour of Homes, Barnett said more than 1,600 people toured the mansion’s foyer and drawing room on the first floor.
Prior to the purchase by the Barnetts, the mansion was home to dance and photo studios, a construction company and low-income apartments over the years.
People said they “waited a lifetime” to get a glimpse inside the mansion, Barnett said.
She understands why people are fascinated with the Sorg Mansion and why it’s common to see people pull over on South Main Street and take photos of the building.
“It’s a castle, so people can’t help but notice,” she said.
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