By Joel Edwards
Old Cedar Mill Gallery is a lovely jaunt northeast of the Neosho, Missouri, city limits.
Here, you will find a creative haven and a treasure trove of handcrafted goods, along with the richness of American history.
Old Cedar Mill Gallery opened in November 2022. It was built using materials from Chapman Sawmill, which was where Steven Chapman crafted items such as tables and benches, which were often donated.
When you visit, you will likely be welcomed by Easter Chapman and her son, Ryan. Modest and unassuming people, they will soon chat with you about their myriad creative arts classes and the rich, and sometimes humorous, history of the mill and items contained within it.
The mill is set in a beautiful rural area, not far from the highway, and draws visitors from Neosho, Joplin and Northwest Arkansas. People of all ages enjoy the crafts classes, and groups are encouraged to participate.
Easter said they have had businesses do team building at Old Cedar Mill, and homeschooling groups request projects in their studio.
The art studio hosts numerous ways to express oneself through arts and crafts for everyone, including those with no gift for art. There is also the retail side.
Everything in their shop is handmade by local artisans. From wood-cutting boards to hand-knitted blankets, goat milk soap to resin arts, the store is a space to take in the beauty of handcrafted wonders. Even the shop is beautifully rustic with Native American art, an antique phone booth and wood craft pens.
Ryan, a historian by education, said, “Part of the fulfillment of running Old Ceder Mill is sharing historical facts and storytelling to those who visit.”
Ryan and Easter give back by creating and collecting donated items of warmth and ensure those items get to people who will benefit from them. As a friendly challenge, they ask other crafters and businesses to contact them to participate in gifts of warmth.
The Chapmans are especially excited about their newest addition to Old Cedar Mill Gallery, a water turbine that once ran a gristmill on Shoal Creek over 100 years ago. The center of the large waterwheel was last used in the late 1800s. They hope to have this feature running by December, just in time for their holiday events.
Join them Dec. 7 when they will have events for the entire family, reindeer rope making, snowball slingshot, snacks, hot cocoa, cider and photos with Santa by his sleigh.
Visit Old Cedar Mill Gallery and take in the richness of history, the slower pace of the rural landscape and the fun of creativity.