The smell of fresh sawdust will greet history buffs, pioneers-in-training and
other guests at the grand opening of a historic Pacific Northwest sawmill at
the Philip Foster Farm National Historic Site on the Barlow Road. The event
will be held at the historic farm located at 22725 SE Eagle Creek Road in
Eagle Creek from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.

“Our goal is to make history hands on. Being able to add this sawmill is very
cool,” said Elaine Butler, Educational Director for the historic site.

Although Foster Farm offers a hands-on educational experience of life in the
region during the pioneer days, guests are reminded to watch their fingers
around the saw. The sawmill was donated to the historic site by the Heiple
family, residents of Eagle Creek. The farm received a grant from Oregon’s Mt.
Hood Territory, a branch of Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural Affairs, to
restore the sawmill.

Philip Foster came to Oregon in 1843 and established a sawmill in Oregon
City. Foster was originally from Maine, where he had a thriving lumber
business and store. He moved to Eagle Creek in 1847 to supply provisions for
settlers on the Oregon Trail and opened a second sawmill. These sawmills
were crucial for the development of the communities of the region.
The model recently acquired by the farm is a later model from the early 20th
century. Foster shipped his original sawmill from Hawaii in the mid-19th
century.

The grand opening will have a 2 p.m. dedication of the exhibit and ribbon
cutting attended by Clackamas County commissioners. Food and beverages
will be available. Admission is $5 for individuals or $20 for a family. No
reservations are required. Admission is free to Jackknife-Zion-Horseheaven
Historical Society members and Clackamas County Historic Pass holders.
Foster Farm is a reproduction of the site Philip Foster originally settled in
Eagle Creek. The facility has been open since 1993 and offers school tours and
summer camps for kids to experience life in region during the mid-19th
century.

Although the sawmill has been installed at its new home, the historic site is
still in the process of returning it to working order.

“If there are any volunteers interested in being involved with the restoration
of the sawmill please contact the farm,” Butler said.

More information is available online at https://philipfosterfarm.com/farm-
events/sawmill-grand-opening-may-14-2022/.