Willamette Heritage Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Kay Woolen Mill
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Thomas Kay Woolen Mill from the rear, showing the dye house
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 Location in Salem OR
Location in Oregon
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| Location | Salem, Oregon |
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| Built | 1889 |
| Architect | Walter D. Pugh |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001579 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1973 |
The Willamette Heritage Center is a fun museum located in Salem, Oregon. It covers five acres and has many old buildings. These buildings are special because they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important parts of history.
The museum includes the Thomas Kay woolen mill, which made cloth from wool. It also has the Jason Lee House, the Methodist Parsonage, the John D. Boon House, and the Pleasant Grove (Condit) Church. These houses and the church were moved to the mill site to be part of the museum. The Center also has a research library. Here, you can find old records and stories about Marion County history.
The Willamette Heritage Center was formed in 2010. It brought together two older groups: the Mission Mill Museum Association (started in 1964) and the Marion County Historical Society (started in 1950).
Contents
History of the Mill
The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill began in 1889. It was started by Thomas Lister Kay. His family later created the famous Pendleton Woolen Mills. About 50 people worked at the mill. They worked 60 hours every week!
In 1895, a big fire destroyed the mill. But they didn't give up! Workers started building a new mill on December 20, 1895. It was built in the same spot. This new building was designed by an architect named W.D. Pugh. It is the brick building you see today. The new mill opened on May 15, 1896. There were speeches, demonstrations, and music to celebrate.
The Kay family ran the mill for four generations. Thomas Lister Kay passed away in 1900. His son, Thomas B. Kay, became the new president. He led the mill until he died in 1931. Then, Thomas B. Kay's son, Ercel, took over. Later, Ercel's son, Tom Kay, became the leader. The mill announced it would close in 1959. All work stopped by 1962.
Discoveries at the Site
Archaeologists have dug up parts of the museum grounds. They found the spot where a Methodist mission school once stood. This school was destroyed by a fire in 1872. These discoveries help us learn more about the past.
What You Can See at the Museum
Visitors can explore the old mill buildings. Inside, you will see machines from the 1800s and 1900s. There are also photos that show how wool was processed into cloth. You can learn how the machines worked.
The old houses and the church have been fixed up. They look just like they did in the mid-1800s. The Jason Lee House has a special exhibit. It teaches about early Oregon history. This includes the time of the Methodist Mission.
The museum also has a cool exhibit about water power. It was created by Portland General Electric. This exhibit shows how the mill used water from Mill Creek to run its machines. It's a great way to see how old technology worked!
Historic Buildings at the Center
The Willamette Heritage Center is home to several very old and important buildings:
- Jason Lee House (built in 1841): This was a home of Jason Lee. It is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Salem. It might even be the oldest in all of Oregon!
- Methodist Mission Parsonage (built in 1841): This was a home for a church leader. It is another very old building from the same time.
- John D. Boon House (built in 1847): This house belonged to John D. Boon.
- Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church (built in 1858): This old church was moved to the museum site.
- Thomas Kay Woolen Mill (built in 1889/1896): This is the main mill building. The first one was built in 1889, and the current one in 1896 after a fire.
See also
