Mission Mill Timeline

1863: Thomas Lister Kay, founder of Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, comes to Oregon.

1889: Kay builds the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, a wooden building at 1313 Mill St. SE, Salem.

1892: The original mill building burns.

1896: A brick version of the wooden mill is built.

1962: The mill, which had produced fine wool blankets and fabrics, is closed after losing business in a changing market.

1964: Mission and Mill Museum, Inc. (later Mission Mill Museum Association), is incorporated with the intent of buying the old mill and moving the 1841 Jason Lee House and Methodist Parsonage to the site.

1967: The association buys the mill and its property for $160,000.

1972: The 1847 John D. Boon House is moved to the museum site.

1973: Thomas Kay woolen Mill is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1977: Restoration starts on the mill’s first floor.

1978: Mill turbine is refurbished to provide power.

1982: Mission Mill Museum Association and Salem Art Association enter an agreement to turn the mill into a center for research and development of textiles known as Northwest Textile Center.

1983: The second floor of the mill building is renovated; renovation of the Dye House and Wool Warehouse starts, grants of $430,000 are received.

1984: Mission Mill Museum Association and Northwest Textile Center merge under the museum name. The 1858 Condit or Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church is moved to the site.

1985: The complex is renamed Mission Mill Village, the second floor of the mill museum is opened and a $3 million fund drive is launched.

1987: First floor of the mill museum is opened.

1988: Card room, spinning room and Dye House renovations started.

1989: The Centennial Ball celebrates 100th anniversary of the mill, and parking is doubled.

1990: The Textile Design Center opens.

1992: The Scouring Room opens.

1997: The mill takes over the textile education program from Salem Art Association.

1998: “Weaving A Legacy” campaign for $2 million is launched.

1999: The mill opens the renovated Wool Warehouse and unveils other improvements.

2005: The mill qualifies for major grant funding from “Save America’s Treasures”.

Researched by Paul Porter, written by Paul Porter and Susan Gibby

Source of Timeline: Mission Mill Museum

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This article originally appeared on the original Salem Online History site and has not been updated since 2006.