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 cool museum located in Salem, Oregon. It's a big place, about five acres, filled with interesting old buildings. Many of these buildings are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some of the special buildings you can see there include the Thomas Kay woolen mill, the Jason Lee House, and the Pleasant Grove Church. These houses and the church were moved to this spot to be part of the museum. The Center also has a library where you can learn about the history of Marion County, Oregon. Today, you can visit the Willamette Heritage Center for self-guided tours, take educational classes, and enjoy community events.
The Willamette Heritage Center was created in 2010. It was formed when two groups, the Mission Mill Museum Association (started in 1964) and the Marion County Historical Society (started in 1950), joined together.
Contents
History of the Mill
The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill began in 1889. It was started by a man named Thomas Lister Kay. His family later went on to create the famous Pendleton Woolen Mills. When the mill first opened, about 50 people worked there, putting in 60 hours each week.
In 1895, a fire sadly destroyed the original mill building. But they didn't give up! They started building a new mill on December 20, 1895, in the exact same spot. This new building, designed by architect W.D. Pugh, is the brick structure you can see today. The new mill officially opened on May 15, 1896, with speeches, demonstrations, and music.
The Kay family ran the mill for four generations. After Thomas Lister Kay passed away in 1900, his son Thomas B. Kay became the president. He led the company until his death in 1931. Then, Thomas B. Kay's son, Ercel, took over. Later, Ercel's son, Tom Kay, became the head of the mill.
The mill announced it would close in 1959. All operations stopped completely by 1962.
What You Can See at the Museum
When you visit the museum, you can walk through the old mill buildings. Inside, you'll find original machines from the 1800s and 1900s. There are also photos that show how wool was processed into fabric a long time ago.
The old houses and the church at the center have been carefully restored. They are furnished to look like they did in the mid-1800s. The Jason Lee House has a special exhibit. It teaches you about early Oregon history during 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 power its machines.
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's one of the oldest known wooden buildings in Salem, and possibly in all of Oregon!
- Methodist Mission Parsonage (built in 1841): This building was also part of the early Methodist Mission.
- John D. Boon House (built in 1847): Another historic home from the mid-1800s.
- Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church (built in 1858): This old church was moved to the site.
- Thomas Kay Woolen Mill (built in 1889/1896): The main mill building, rebuilt after the fire.
See also
In Spanish: Mission Mill Museum para niños
