BELPRE -A company is attempting to sell the Middleton Doll property in Belpre.

A few weeks ago a large sign advertising The Middleton Doll Co. property as for sale by owner appeared next to the facility along Washington Boulevard in Belpre. Attempts to contact the owner selling the property have been unsuccessful.

The number on the sign connects to a recording stating the "number is not reachable."

According to land records at the Washington County Courthouse the property is owned by Lee Middleton Dolls in Columbus. Messages left at the Lee Middleton Original Dolls headquarters and the Middleton Doll Co. were not returned.

Messages left with the operations manager at the Middleton's Belpre facility also were not returned.

Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz said the sign for property went up a few weeks ago.

"I just got word a couple of months ago that they were going to sell it," he said.

Lorentz said the company is seeking to sell the building, but retain a lease of the gift shop space.

The Middleton Doll Co. opened its Belpre facility in 1989. The company was initially formed in 1978 by Lloyd and Lee Middleton. The Middletons divorced in 1990 and eventually formed rival companies.

Lee Middleton retained the original company, renaming it the Lee Middleton Original Doll Co. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1991 and was acquired by a pair of investors who changed the company's name to the Middleton Doll Co. in 2001. In June 2004, company announced plans to move production to China.

Lee Middleton died in 1997.

Lloyd Middleton formed Lloyd Middleton Dolls in 1990 and built a rival facility across the street. In February 2004, Lloyd Middleton relocated the company to Torch, Ohio.

Lloyd Middleton died in 2006. The company is still operational "on a small scale" run out of a house in Coolville.