Lane County/Eugene Historic Monument Marker Dedication!

Join us to note the creation of a new local history memorial. Marking the historic grain Millstone located at the Mims houses at 330 and 336 High Street. The Mill stone was brought to the Mims property in 1892 when the original Eugene Mill burned down. The 336 High property housed mill workers at the time and they brought the stone to the Mims property at that time. The Second Eugene Mill & Elevator was constructed in 1895 by Williams & Matthews to replace the original mill which was destroyed by fire in 1892. The site was historically located along a millrace developed in c1850 by Hilyard Shaw, and given additional impetus when the Oregon & California Railroad reached Eugene in 1871. In 1877-1898 the millrace became the industrial heart of Eugene. By 1912 a grainhouse replaced a small shed on the west elevation to connect the elevator and flour mill. The west lean-to roof was raised on the north end during the early 1920s to accommodate equipment for conversion to electrical power. The Bushman Brothers acquired the mill & elevator in 1931 and operated it until 1946 when all but the lone elevator burned down. The cupola was removed in the 1970s when the new roof and east shed of corrugated steel were constructed. The elevator was significant as the last remaining structure of the city's pioneer millrace industrial complex, which catapulted Eugene to commercial prominence and its designation as the county seat. After extensive review by the City of Eugene, the elevator was allowed to be demolished by the Eugene Water & Electric Board in November 1986. The current marker was made possible through the artistic eye of designer Lisa Ponder, generous support from the City of Eugene , and the vision of the Mims Family.