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TERRACE — Terrace Mill, the nationally recognized historic flour mill and attraction, will reopen its doors to the public on June 21 and 22 with a slew of activities and events.

The mill, located in Glenwood, Minnesota, officially closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reorganizing efforts, according to a news release announcing the reopening. However, after building back up its board of directors and obtaining more volunteer help, Terrace Mill and the surrounding area will once again function as a historic site and gathering place.

"I just love old stuff," said Julie Lloyd, president of the board of directors for the Terrace Mill Foundation. "I love knowing about what's happened before I've been here. I love the arts, and Terrace Mill is kind of a blend of both preserving history and how things used to be done, and just providing a place for people to learn new skills and explore their artistic side."

Contributed / Terrace Mill

Lloyd mentioned that although the Mill Foundation's previous mission was mainly centered around restoration and preservation of the structure and surrounding grounds, it has since added a goal of creating a welcoming environment and event space for people of all ages.

Before closing to the public five years ago, Terrace Mill hosted gatherings, artistic events and, notably, a children's theater program — productions of roughly 30 people performing fairy tale and children's literature stories such as "The Jungle Book," "Hansel & Gretel" and "The Rockin' Tale of Snow White." The Foundation hopes to restart the children's theater program in the summer of 2026.

This year, Terrace Mill will feature an art exhibit with works from Orlando Haugland, Gerald Solbreken and Jan Devick, all of whom have ties to the Terrace area. Art on display will include mixed media sculptures from Haugland's "Terrace" series, wood carvings by Solbreken and mixed media and paintings by Devick.

Terrace Mill will be dedicating a special memorial plaque for the late Robert Greenfield, a 30-year volunteer for the Terrace Mill Foundation, at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Friends and family of Greenfield are encouraged to attend to celebrate his legacy with the project.

Greenfield grew up in the Terrace area and graduated from Glenwood High ÍáÍáÂþ»­. He then moved to New York and worked as a teacher with gifted and talented students, but later moved back to the Terrace area where he opened a restaurant called the Terrace Store Company and volunteered with the Terrace Mill Foundation. He died Feb. 26, 2024.

Contributed / Terrace Mill

Lloyd noted that Greenfield was especially passionate about the children's theater program, and he loved nothing more than seeing kids have fun and excel.

"After every show he'd come up to me, and he'd have tears in his eyes, and he'd say, 'Oh, I'm so proud that this is in Terrace. I would put this program up against anything I've seen in New York.' He was just fabulous," Lloyd said.

Terrace Mill is also in the midst of conducting three main paid summer events. A woodcarving class on June 14 offered participants ages 14 and older the chance to carve a wooden feather from cottonwood bark. It was led by the Prairie Woodcarvers Group from Alexandria.

Fred Keller of the "Skally Line" duo will lead a songwriting workshop Sunday, June 29. Geared toward all levels of songwriting, participants are encouraged to bring any in-progress poems or songs, a notebook and pen, and optionally, an instrument, to learn about storytelling through music and perfect any works in progress. It costs $30 to attend this event.

And on Saturday, Aug. 23, the Terrace Mill Foundation will be hosting a rosemaling class at Chippewa Falls Lutheran Church, just north of the mill in Terrace. Rosemaling is a style of traditional Norwegian folk painting, and participants will have the opportunity to paint a sandwich board. It costs $60 to attend this event.

Events during Terrace Mill's grand reopening June 21 and 22 are free to the public. Times and details are listed below:

Saturday, June 21

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Mill and grounds open
  
• 10 a.m. — Ordway Prairie tour led by Ralph Hanson; meet at the mill, tour is not on-site
  
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Face painting with local artist Sabrina Andersen
  
• 11 a.m. — Food served at the kitchen
  
• 2 p.m. — Robert Greenfield Memorial Plaque dedication, followed by cake and rhubarb tea
  
• 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. — Music by Stan & Friends

Sunday, June 22

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Mill and grounds open
  
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Sunburg Trolls classic cars available for viewing
  
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Face painting with local artist Sabrina Andersen
  
• 11 a.m. — Food served at the kitchen
  
• 11 a.m. — Yoga and sound bowls by the millstream with Barb Ostrander and Amber Dauner-Bartlett
  
• 1 p.m. — Sunburg Community Music performance

Terrace Mill will continue to be open to the public through Sept. 7 with regular hours from 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, or by appointment. The address is 27165 Old Mill Pond Road, rural Glenwood, roughly 30 miles south of Alexandria.

Terrace Mill was built in 1903 by Jonas M. Danelz and purchased by Peter Takken in 1920. Takken added a diesel engine to the mill and built a house on the property, but ceased grist milling operations in 1949 when the building was temporarily converted into a woodworking shop for church furniture by a new owner. In 1967 the building was left vacant, and preservation efforts began in the mid-1970s.

The mill itself and four surrounding structures are registered with the The Terrace Mill Foundation, a collection of board members, volunteers and staff has been in charge of overseeing the preservation of the site since 1979.