LCRA, City of San Saba award $35,000 grant for repairs to historic Old Mill House
Renovations at Mill Pond Park will restore community gathering space following 2025 flooding
May 13, 2026
Key Takeaways
- LCRA and the City of San Saba award a $35,000 grant to the San Saba Garden Club to restore the historic Old Mill House following severe damage from two floods last year.
- Renovations will modernize the interior while preserving the building’s historic character and expanding its use for community programs and events.
- The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.
LCRA and City of San Saba representatives present a $35,000 grant to the San Saba Garden Club for renovations to the Old Mill House. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Debbie Shahan, garden club reporter; Karen Sloan, club member; Marjean Alexander, club co-president; Rhonda Killion, club parliamentarian; Martha Leigh M. Whitten, LCRA Board vice chair; Susan Kissko, club member; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Scott Edmonson, San Saba city manager; Carol Freeman, LCRA Board member; Cindy Sloan, club co-president; Jan Beaver and Denise Mayfield, club members; Trudy Hughes, club treasurer; and John Palacio, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.
SAN SABA, Texas – The San Saba Garden Club soon will restore and reopen the historic Old Mill House, a longtime community gathering space in Mill Pond Park, thanks in part to a $35,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of San Saba.
The LCRA Community Grant, along with $19,560 in matching funds from the garden club and other grants, will support extensive interior renovations after the building sustained significant damage from flooding in 2025.
Cindy Sloan, co-president of the San Saba Garden Club, said the community came together to support recovery efforts in the aftermath of the floods.
“Floodwaters last July reached three-quarters of the way up the interior walls, destroying the kitchen, bathroom, storage areas and everything inside,” Sloan said. “In the days after the flood, garden club members sorted through damaged items, salvaging what they could and cleaning and sanitizing tables, chairs and dishes. Our community understood the importance of the historic building.”
Renovations will include installing a new HVAC system and sheetrock, replacing all electrical systems, rebuilding the bathroom and storage areas, painting, and adding new appliances, cabinets and countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. The improvements will help the facility continue to serve as a community hub for gatherings, events and activities.
“This historic Old Mill House hosts our annual Kids Nature Kamp, is available to rent for meetings and wedding receptions, and provides a welcoming space for gatherings and events in Mill Pond Park,” Sloan said. “Thanks to this grant from LCRA and the City of San Saba, combined with other community grants and donations, we can begin rebuilding and restoring what was lost so this historic space can continue to be a cherished and integral part of our park and community for years to come.”
This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at www.lcra.org/grants.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.
Social Media