New name for Shaw Mill Road: Old Plank Road

MILAN TWP. — Erie County commissioners accelerated forward with a Milan Township-led proposal to revert a road name back to its original label.During a recent public meeting, officials from both governments signed off on the street title change.The thoroughfare once known as Shaw Mill Road, just outside of Milan village, changed to Old Plank Road, its original name.A proclamation provided by township trustees provided some history into the Old Plank Road name:• "The wagon traffic carrying grain from throughout central Ohio to Milan was so important that a wood plank was constructed from Milan to Norwalk and beyond."• "This wood plank road was constructed to the highest standards of its day and contributed to the prosperity of the Milan Canal and early success of the village of Milan and Milan Township."• "This Old Plank Road, historically, led directly to downtown Milan, a fact researched and supported by local historians, including the Milan Museum."• "The Milan Township trustees received a petition, signed by numerous residents, supporting the correction of the erroneous naming of Shaw Mill Road to its rightful name of Old Plank Road and having held a hearing to consider further public input on this issue, which was well received by area residents and other interested parties.""The village of Milan is in agreement with the re-establishment of the name 'Old Plank Road.'"Erie County commissioner Matt Old explained why he supported the name change."The township trustees, village council and a large group of residents asked for this change," Old said. "It made sense to change the road's name back to its proper historical name. I was also pleased we could take the vote in the historical Milan Town Hall."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.During a recent public meeting, area officials pose for a photo with a ceremonial street sign for "Old Plank Road." Erie County commissioners approved a road name change of Shaw Mill Road in Milan Township to Old Plank Road. Pictured; back row, from left: Dan Frederick, Richard Maloney, Matt Old, Bill Monaghan and Mike Shover; front row, from left: Gerry Nickoli and Brian Rospert.