If anyone's interested in what's going on in Oregon City...

[Tom Kitten]

I posted this in the photography group a week ago. I signed up and went on a tour of the Blue Heron Mill site near Willamette Falls and what is there currently...there's a long range project to restore this area, which was actually the last stop on the Oregon Trail.
I basically grew up in this area and had never seen these sights (except from a distance) until earlier this month. There is so much potential with what can be done here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/103637088

[grasswire]

1. I was in Oregon City today...

...at the farmers market downtown. I really really like old Oregon City and am not particularly thrilled with the "beautification" that has gone on downtown so most of the store fronts look alike.

How did you find a tour of the mill? I remember going there on a school field trip many many years ago.

[Tom Kitten]

2. You can sign up via their Facebook page

which is https://www.facebook.com/rediscoverthefalls

Also their website http://www.rediscoverthefalls.com/

They just had another tour Friday, mine was 2 weeks earlier, so check back every now and then to see when they announce a new one. It cost $15 but it was definitely worth it. It's the only way to get inside the gate, that I know of!

I like OC too...it definitely has character! I grew up next door in Gladstone, which, unless you like hanging out at auto dealerships, doesn't have too much happening. So Oregon City, by comparison, was exciting!

[SoapBox]

3. Holy cow!

Last edited Fri Nov 28, 2014, 12:39 PM - Edit history (1)

I was born in Oregon City in the mid 1950's...grew up and lived near the now closed King School, went to Gardiner Junior High and the old OCHS. Several kids in the neighborhood had dads that worked in the mills.

I remember times where the area reeked of rotten eggs...sulfur from the mills.

Fantastic pictures...what I remember as a kid was the December 1964 flooding...went with Dad to the viewpoint above the falls, to see them covered in water!