We arrived at our winter position on October 1, 2009.
The first view of Thompson's Mills State Heritage Site is when you cross the mill race bridge on Boston Mill Road.
The mill owners home, on the grounds, was built in1903.
This shows our daily commute to the mill to lead visitor tours.
The only campsite is the Host site, it is a day use park.
The Host Site at Thompson's Mills State Historic Site in Shedd, Oregon.
The silos were erected in 1917, and the Delicious Apple and Valley Rose logos were re-created by the Oregon State Parks from original photos.
This is the mill race, part of the water power system of Thompson's Mills.
The tail race is where the water used by the mill returns to the Calapooia River.
This dam is one of the water control features of the Thompson's Mills water system on the Calapooia River.
The Fish Ladder is along the side of the dam, allows migrating fish upstream. (photo by Doug Crispin)
Another view of the Calapooia River and one of the Dams. (photo by Doug Crispin)
Here we are starting a tour with a group of visitors talking about the water system.
We then take visitors to the head gates to show how water is controlled.
We got to learn Head Gate Operations as part of our duties.
Hosts get to show off limits areas to visitors.
There are three turbines that convert water flow into mechanical energy.
This shows a damaged turbine that was replaced, there is a date of 1913 stamped on it.
John is helping the Kids to understand what is really going on here, with a model he made.
This is a kitchen model grinding stone, it's called a QUERN.
The mill uses a lot of gears and belts to make the mechanical energy.
This is one of the original grinding stones used at Thompson's Mills.
Steel roller mills replaced the grinding stones, progress.
Even the Flour Sacks have a history to tell.
Some of the flour sacks in the collection date back to 1903 ~ 1910 era.
After the mill stopped making flour, about 1944, they started making animal feeds.
What goes up and down within the mill?
It's called a Man-lift, a hand operated elevator. Look Ma, hands only make it go up and down.
This is a grain bagging station, there is a scale and a hand held stitching machine.
This wheel controls the speed of the Turbine below.
This is the speedometer for the turbine.
These gears convert the energy from a vertical shaft to a horizontal drive line in the basement of the mill.
This gear operates the head gated.
Jeanie got to edit and sort Video Interviews of Mill History.
Buckey only looks mad, he is a nice friendly cat.
We had an unusual donation.
This is just a beautiful view of the millrace on a cold winter day
Another creative view of Thompsom's Mills.
One foggy morning I took this photo of the mill from the mill race bridge.
The mill race is frozen in this shot, I think this week it got down to the upper teens for the low temperature.
Christmas was special at Thompson's Mills.
