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The Boston/Thompson Mill
A Unique Part of Oregon’s History
Boston/Thompson's Mills was Oregon's oldest continuously operating water powered mill. One of the four remaining grist mills in the state, it was one of only two mills still in operation until 2004, when it was purchased for a state heritage site.
Built in 1858 by Richard C. Finley, Philemon V. Crawford, and Alexander Brandon, Boston Mills is an agricultural and architectural landmark of the Willamette Valley.
The mill was built on land purchased from Americus Savage, the original Donation Land Claim [DLC] holder. The diversion dam was built on Robert Elder’s DLC to the south.
Boston Mills circa 1892
Thompson's Flouring Mills circa 1940
The mill site just prior to the finish of the current visitor parking area. Looking at the neighboring fields that surround the mill, one can imagine windrows of grain waiting to be harvested and processed. This satellite image was taken at an altitude of 279 miles above the mill.
