Abstract

Thompson's Mills, Oregon's oldest water-powered grist mill, is located just east of Shedd in Linn County on the Calapooia River. The mill operated commercially for 146 years, and its owners adapted the mills to evolve with changing regional and national events. Milling began on the site in 1858, and through a dam system, the Calapooia River generated power for the mills until 1986. The Thompson's Mills State Park is a unique resource for Oregon historians, containing artifacts that document the state's technological, political, and social past. Journalist and park staff person Kristine Deacon traces the mills' complete history, drawing out the significance of the historical record in the buildings and collections and narrating the personal, political, and economic impacts on the story with particular attention to the importance of water rights.

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