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Cedar Mill History news

The Cedar Mill Historical Society was incorporated as a 501c3 charitable organization in 2016. It is now beginning to take the next step in building community and volunteer support.

CMHS was recently selected to receive pro-bono consulting from the Community Consulting Project (CCP), an outreach program sponsored by the Organizational Development Network of Oregon. CCP is working with our Board of Directors to prioritize projects and conduct a community survey to understand what the community would like to see, and participate in.

The Cedar Mill History Museum, an interpretive learning center temporarily located in the soon-to-be-demolished old Milltowner center, is one of the priorities. Goals are to engage more volunteers so the Museum can be open more days, improve the collection, and make plans to attract more visitors.

Another likely project will be to create a walking tour of Cedar Mill history. Most of the buildings and locations that were important to the community no longer exist, but with interpretive signs and a brochure, along with online elements, we can create a picture of what the community was like in its early days.

Oral histories capture the memories of “old-timers” who grew up here. We will recruit and train volunteers to interview our treasured residents to fill in some of the missing pieces and share the engaging stories that make history come alive.

The survey will be published in the near future. Plan to give us your feedback so we can provide our history story in ways that will appeal to all ages.

CCP is also working with a volunteer who will create a new Cedar Mill History website. We have tons of photos, articles, and stories that we’re excited to share online.

JQA Young House gets THPRD funding

The John Quincy Adams Young House was built in the 1860s by the second owner of the mill. He named our community when he became postmaster. The first post office was located here.

We recently learned that Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District has budgeted $50,000 to begin work on a new roof, windows, siding, exterior doors, and paint for the 1860s-era house. This will be matched with a $50,000 grant that was received in 2014 from the Wheeler Foundation. Staff is currently soliciting bids for work to upgrade the foundation.

In 2011, we were told that the house would need to be moved because the future right-of-way of Cornell might impact it. THPRD staff has consulted with Washington County and determined that won’t be necessary, so plans to renovate the shell of the house will move forward soon.

By the time that is done, CMHS hopes to be in position to move forward with the fun part: renovating the interior so the house can be open to the public as an interpretive center.

Sign up for updates from CMHS here, and plan to attend the next opening of the Museum April 21-22.

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