Willamette Heritage Center Permanent Exhibits
The first two floors of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill building are devoted to telling the story of woolen processing, on its journey from fleece to fabric. Visitors can view machinery used for carding, spinning and weaving wool on the 2nd Floor. The Finishing Room tells the story of burling and mending, fulling, napping, shearing and final inspections.
PGE Waterpower Exhibit
The PGE Waterpower Exhibit tells the story of early power generation in Salem. The history of waterpower dates to the 1840s and the Oregon Methodist Mission. Missionaries harnessed the energy from Mill Creek for a saw mill and grist mill. As the community grew and the need for power expanded, the Salem Ditch, a canal which increased water flow into Mill Creek from the Santiam River, was surveyed and dug near Stayton. Increased water flow powered many industries and made possible the man-made mill race which powered the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and its predecessors. A turbine turned drive shafts, belts, pulleys and gears to operate the machines the mill needed. In later years a generator was added, also powered by the turbine. The generator converted water power into electricity to provide lighting for the Woolen Mill. Later electricity was used to enhance mechanical power during times of high production.
Mentzer Machine Shop
Wayne Mentzer worked as Millwright at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, even after the mill closed and turned into a museum. As Millwright, Metnzer was in charge of keeping everything running and in order. In the Machine Shop, you can see belts driving woodworking equipment that would have been used to make repairs around the mill, a blacksmithing forge, and the chair and ledge Wayne used to eat lunch everyday with his trained pet mice.