In 1829, a British fur trader, John McLaughen, blasted a millrace just below the Willamette Falls, marking Oregon’s first industrial site. Until the early 1900s when the space was bought and run by Hawley Pulp and Paper Mill, a variety of mills occupied the space, from lumber to flour mills. In 2000, the mill was sold to its employees, becoming the Blue Heron Paper Co. Yet, unable to keep up with competition, the Blue Heron Paper Co. was forced to file for bankruptcy; however, its future holds promise. Oregon City, in collaboration with surrounding counties and the State of Oregon, plans to restore the second-most powerful waterfall in North America. The Willamette Falls Legacy Project plans to open up the cultural treasure for pedestrians, business, restaurants and more by adding a public river walk and space for businesses. This video is a tribute to what the mill once was—a fading remnant of American industry.
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