April Events at Mission Mill Museum

Kids enjoy living history at the Mission Mill Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - The Mission Mill Museum in Salem is one of those rare artifacts found in a place like Oregon's capitol city. The facility interprets the history of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill which produced wool products from 1889 to 1962 and represents one of Oregon`s earliest and strongest industries.

The museum also interprets the history of Jason Lee's Methodist Mission to Oregon which settled the Willamette Valley in 1834 before the major Oregon Trail migrations. The missionaries brought formal education, industry, and large scale agriculture and advocated for U.S. government in the Oregon country.

Three items of note are coming up at Mission Mill Museum in April...

On April 15th-- `Manos Que Tejen," An Exhibition of Zapotec Women`s Weaving closes. Organizers say anyone with an interest needs to visit soon and see this excellent exhibit. From Teotitlan del Valle in Oaxaca, Mexico, La Vida Nueva (`New Life") cooperative presents tapetes (rugs or tapestries) in both traditional and contemporary designs. Every piece is made from handspun, natural-dyed wool. The female members of the cooperative have banded together to market their high quality work directly to the customer, avoiding rapacious middlemen. The exhibit displays photographs and explanations of the process of making the tapetes, and all pieces shown are also for sale.

At 7:30 PM on April 20th, Part 4 of 4 in the Mill's Speaker Series will be held. Dr. Jackson Miller illuminates the art of oratory. Dr. Miller brings Cicero, one of Rome`s greatest orators (106-43 B.C.), to life through the performance of five of his speeches and passages from his scholarly writings and letters. The issues Cicero dealt with, surprisingly, mirror our own despite the gulf of time that separates us. Prior to the speaker, Mission Mill Museum will be presenting heritage awards at Panegyric.

The Tubular Peyote Beadwork Class will be held April 22nd from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Mariana Mace will teach students to cover objects with peyote beadwork. Simple design concepts will be taught while covering a wooden needle case. Materials provided. The class costs $35 for museum members, $40 for non-members, with a $20 materials fee. Reserve your space by April 14th.

Mission Mill Museum preserves Mission houses, an Oregon Trail settler house, an historic church, and the structures, equipment, and original water-power turbine of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill with related artifacts. The museum`s histories are shared with visitors through daily and group tours, interpretation, speakers, living history, children`s programs, hands-on activities, special events, the museum store, and rental facilities. Volunteers are a vital part of the organization.