Mission Mill Museum Recognizes Volunteers for Outstanding Accomplishments

Mission Mill Museum relies on the efforts of over 400 hundred volunteers each year.

Paul and Norma Flick are the Mission Mill's Volunteers of the Year Photos courtesy: Mission Mill

(SALEM, Ore.) - Twenty-six volunteers were honored recently at Mission Mill Museum's annual volunteer recognition dinner. Among the honorees were The 2006 museum tour guides, Max Suko, Marilyn Whelan, Claire Fuller, Holly Miles, Jyl McCormick, Sharon Whitwer, Tobbi Oakes, Gayle Meaders, Norma Gekakis, Betty Corey, Maggie Johnson, Bob Kovarik and Alton May.

Linda Langham with the Mission Mill says the volunteers were recognized for outstanding ensemble performance. "This special group of people donate hundreds of hours each year to help kids and adults in our community learn more about Salem history."

Paul and Norma Flick were honored as the Volunteers of the Year, according to Langham, "Over the past two years, Paul and Norma have spent nearly every Tuesday at the museum, tirelessly arranging a loose assortment of books, files, newspaper clippings, articles and photographs into a well organized research library."

She says their work has allowed staff and researchers to access information quickly and efficiently and better prepare for exhibits and educational programming for the public.

"Mission Mill Museum relies on the efforts of over 400 hundred volunteers each year. They help in nearly every aspect of the museum's daily operations from guiding tours to helping out with special events."

The Mission Mill Museum in Salem is one of the city's primary, historic landmarks. The facility and staff 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.

From left: Marilyn Whelan, Holly Miles, Gayle Meader, Sharon Whitwer, Maggie Johnson, and Claire Fuller

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 their organization and they say they can always use more help, call the Mission Mill for more information or visit them on the Web at www.missionmill.org