Thomas Kay Woolen Mill - Salem, Oregon
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member ddtfamily
N 44° 56.087 W 123° 01.626
10T E 497861 N 4975706
Historic direct-drive water powered mill dating to 1896
Waymark Code: WMH3BJ
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 05/15/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member silverquill
Views: 4

This Victorian era factory complex is unique in the Pacific Northwest as the best preserved example of an English/Eastern seaboard style woolen mill. The mill was founded by Thomas Kay in 1889, but the original building burned in 1895 and was replaced by the current structure in 1896. The mill produced blankets, flannels and other clothing items using Oregon-grown wool. Until it's sale to the the Mission Mill Museum Association in 1895 it was under the continuous control of the Thomas Kay family.

The main building measures approximately 60 feet wide by 185 feet in length and consists of two and a half stories plus a basement. Today the building serves as a museum plus provides some office space. Additional buildings include the "Dye House," the "Picker House" and other back buildings. The complex is located on the Mill Race, a ditch that diverts water from Mill Creek and provide water to power the mill machinery. The mill buildings are now all part of the Mission Mill Museum, which also features several historic wood frame structures dating to the 1840s.


Click a photo to enlarge

Street address:
260 12th Street SE
Salem, OR USA
97301


County / Borough / Parish: Marion

Year listed: 1973

Historic (Areas of) Significance: Industry; Architecture

Periods of significance: 1900-1924; 1875-1899

Historic function: Manufacturing facility

Current function: Museum; Park

Privately owned?: no

Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 5:00 PM

Primary Web Site: [Web Link]

Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]

Season start / Season finish: Not listed

Secondary Website 2: Not listed

National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
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Recent Visits/Logs:
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WalksfarTX visited Thomas Kay Woolen Mill - Salem, Oregon 06/19/2015 WalksfarTX visited it
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