In the beginning, the Industrial Revolution used waterpower to run machinery. The Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem, Oregon provides an example of using waterpower in the manufacture of woolen cloth.
In Salem, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill functioned entirely on waterpower until 1940.
The Millrace
There are two problems in harnessing waterpower to run a woolen mill. First, the mill must be located near running water and, second, the natural flow of water during the drier seasons may vary. To solve these problems, in 1857, a canal was dug to divert water from the North Santiam River to Mill Creek. The water from Mill Creek was then diverted into the millrace by a dam.
The Turbine
Shown above is a 1914 Leffel Brothers Sampson 45 Turbine. This produced all of the power needed for the Mill.
According to the display:
“A turbine is a horizontal form of a waterwheel. Power for the Mill’s machinery was produced by a vertical shaft water turbine. Water flowing downhill, propelled by a man-made 12-foot drop, turned vanes in the upper half of the turbine, producing 170 horsepower. The water motion spinning the turbine powered the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and created electricity.”
The turbine provides about 75-90 kilowatt hours of electricity per day by turning a generator.
Another view of the turbine.
More museum photo tours
Willamette Heritage Center: The Boon House (photo diary)
Willamette Heritage Center: The Methodist Parsonage (photo diary)
Museums 101: The Miller Lumber Sawmill (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Old Time Education (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Caboose (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Japanese glass fishing floats (photo diary)
Museums 101: A Collection of Wagons and Carriages (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Weddings (Photo Diary)