1135 N 17th 

935 N 17th 

1520 N 18th 

2nd – Margaret Danforth 

2nd – 7 Sep 1951 in Salem, Oregon 

Wayne Printz Mentzer was born on 9 Dec 1904, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to George and Martha [Printz] Mentzer. At the age of four, his family moved to Oregon in search of farmland. And though his father’s farming plans did not materialize, George did find steady work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill – a legacy that Wayne and his brother Vernon would later continue.  

Wayne attended public schools in Salem and graduated from Salem High School in 1924, earning a gold watch for his proficiency in industrial arts. That same year, he joined his father at the woolen mill.   

On 2 Nov 1928, Wayne married Irene Keuscher at the Jason Lee Parsonage in Salem. He was 23 years old, and his bride was 19. Together they raised two daughters, Gloria Darlene and Linda Joyce.   

In 1930, the couple rented a home at 1755 N. Cottage St. Wayne worked as a mechanic at the woolen mill, while Irene worked as a belt worker at a local cannery. Ten years later, the family had saved enough to buy their own home at 1520 N 18th St. When Wayne’s father retired in 1943, Wayne was offered the millwright position at the mill.    

Sadly, in 1944, Irene was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a debilitating neuromuscular disease. With community support, an iron lung was purchased for Salem Hospital to extend her life, but after six years of suffering, she passed away on 1 April 1950, at just 40 years old. She left two daughters, aged 15 and 9.  

In 1951, Wayne remarried, to Margaret Danforth. Both had been widowed – Wayne was 46 and Margaret, 47. She was a registered nurse by profession and did not have any children from her first marriage. Margaret moved into the family home on 18th St. and became a fulltime homemaker and stepmother. Wayne continued to work at the woolen mill until it ceased operations in 1962, and he semi-retired.  

In 1965, concerned citizens in Salem established Mission Mill Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the Kay Mill and two historic homes, the Jason Lee House and the Parsonage, which were relocated to the mill’s 4.5-acre site. Their vision was to create a historical park. The organization hired Mentzer, for his knowledge and experience with the mill’s operations and machinery.  

Until his death, Wayne continued to work and advocate for the preservation of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and its industrial legacy in Salem. Wayne Printz Mentzer passed away on 27 Jan 1984 in Salem, Oregon, at the age of 79. He was laid to rest in City View Cemetery.  

After Wayne’s death, his wife Margaret pushed for the restoration of his old machine shop. Time and decay had caused the building to collapse. Many of the tools had been left behind to rust, while others were moved elsewhere onsite or taken home by Wayne for safekeeping. With Margaret’s money and a Meyer Memorial Trust grant, the museum rebuilt the structure, restored and improved the space in Wayne’s memory.  

1926-27  Mentzer Wayne P, machinist, T K Woolen Mill Co, r 1135 N 17th 

1928-29  Mentzer Wayne, r 935 N 17th 

1930-31  Mentzer Wayne (Irene E) assistant engineer, T K Woolen Mill Co, h 1520 N 18th 

1932  Mentzer Wayne (Irene E) assistant mechanic, T K Woolen Mill Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1934  Mentzer Wayne (Irene E) mechanic, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1936-37  Mentzer Wayne (Irene E) mechanic, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1938-39  Mentzer Wayne (Irene E) mechanic, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1940  Mentzer Wayne (Irene E) mechanic, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1942  Mentzer Wayne P (Irene E) machinist, TKWM Co, r 1520 N 18th 

1945  Mentzer Wayne P (Irene E) shop foreman, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1947  Mentzer Wayne P (Irene E) millwright, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th  

1949  Mentzer Wayne P (Irene E) mechanic, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th 

1951  Mentzer Wayne P, foreman, TKWM Co, h 1520 N 18th 

1953-54  Mentzer Wayne P (Margt A) shop foreman, Thos Kay Woolen Mill, h 1520 N 18th  

1955  Mentzer Wayne P (Margt) engineer, Thos Kay Woolen Mills, h 1520 N 18th  

1956  Mentzer Wayne P (Margt) engineer, Kay Woolen Mill, h 1520 N 18th 

1958  Mentzer Wayne P (Margt) mechanic, Thos Kay Woolen Mills, h 1520 N 18th NE 

1960  Mentzer Wayne P (Margt) shop foreman, Thos Kay Woolen Mills, h 1520 18th NE 

1920  Wayne P. Mentzer. Age: 15. Birth Year: abt 1905 in Michigan. Single, son to HOH. Home in 1920: Salem Ward 6, Marion, Oregon. Additional household members: George F. Mentzer, age 46 (father), Martha E. Mentzer, age 44 (mother).  

1930  Wayne P. Mentzer. Age: 25. Birth Year: abt 1905 in Michigan. Married, HOH. Home in 1930: 1755 N Cottage St. Salem, Marion, Oregon. Home is rented. Additional household member: Irene E. Mentzer, age 20 (wife).  

1940  Wayne Mentzer. Age: 35. Birth Year: abt 1905 in Michigan. Married, HOH. Home in 1940: 1520 N 19th St. [s/b 18th] Salem, Marion, Oregon. Home is owned. Highest grade completed: High School, 4th year. Occupation: Machinist, Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Irene Mentzer, age 30 (wife), Gloria Mentzer, age 5 (daughter).  

1950  Wayne R. Mentzer. Age: 46. Birth Date: abt 1905 in Michigan. Married, HOH. Home in 1950: 1520 N 18th St. Salem, Marion, Oregon. Home is owned. Occupation: Millwright, Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Irene Mentzer, age 40 (wife), Gloria D. Mentzer, age 15 (daughter), Linda J. Mentzer, age 9 (daughter). 

Irene Elizabeth Keuscher Mentzer  Birth: 2 Nov 1909, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Death: 1 Apr 1950 (aged 40), Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Plot: Sec. M. Memorial ID: 74935829  

Margaret Mentzer  Birth: 1903. Death: 1998 (aged 94-95). Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, Oregon. Plot: Sec. M. Memorial ID: 75281841 

Oregon Statesman 30 Mar 1950, p. 2 – Woman Requires Use of Iron Lung, Irene 

Oregon Statesman 3 Apr 1950, p. 5 – Mrs. Mentzer Loses Fight with Disease 

Capital Journal 3 Apr 1950, p. 2 – Mrs. Mentzer Dies from Rare Disease 

Oregon Statesman 19 Feb 1957, p. 1 – Woolen Mill Whistle Calls Mice to Meal 

Oregon Statesman 14 Apr 1968, p. 31 – Long-time Kay Mill Hand Still on Deck, Wayne interview 

Capital Journal 21 Aug 1971, p. 37 – Salem’s old woolen Mill gets a new lease on life 

Oregon Statesman 11 Nov 1973, p. 7 – Kay Mill is Kept Intact in Hopes of Historic Restoration, Wayne interview 

Oregon Statesman 7 Sep 1976, p. 8 – Reception for Mentzers, 25th anniversary 

Statesman Journal 19 Jan 1983, p. 19 – First job at mill weaves career full of memories, Wayne interview 

Statesman Journal 28 Jan 1984, p. 15 – Obituary, Wayne 

Statesman Journal 5 Oct 1986, p. 15 – Mission Mill ceremony dedicates shop to millwright Wayne Mentzer 

Statesman Journal 23 Aug 1996, p. 48 – Mentzer Machine Shop now part of the tour 

M3 1992-101-0015     Photo 

M3 1992-101-0016     Photo 

M3 1992-101-0021a   Photo 

M3 1992-109-0001     Photo 

M3 1992-116-0009     Photo 

M3 1992-117-0013     Photo 

0081.006.0006.007     Newspaper Clipping 

M3 1992-100-0095     Technical Drawing 

M3 1977-002                Newspaper 

M3 1986-100                Tools 

M3 1994-016-0009      Oral Histories (Wayne Mentzer) 

M3 1991-015-0001      Interview (Wayne Mentzer) 

X2012.028                     Video (Wayne Mentzer) 

MMMA.200                  Institutional Scrapbooks