Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Idaho woman reportedly moving Oakesdal history
Barron's Flour Mill, an Oakesdale landmark since it's arrival in the late 1800s, still stands alongside state Highway 27.
OAKESDALE - J.C. Barron's Mill has stood in Oakesdale since its construction in 1890.
The old wooden mill was built in 1890 by J.G. Porter and was sold to Harvey Gray, then to Joseph C. Barron Sr. in 1907.
In December 1997, the Barron family sold the mill to Mary Jane Butters, an organic and grain marketer and owner of Paradise Farm Organics, Inc., of Moscow, Idaho.
The milling operation was moved to Moscow, but the old mill was maintained for several years to host tours.
"It was brought here in the late 1800s and was transported from back east. It was a full service grain mill and Mr. Barron would run it and grind up wheat and sell flour out of the door," City Councilman Al Evans said. "There is a whole lot of history behind it and the people are upset."
They're upset because Butters has begun to disassemble pieces of the old mill and relocate them to her Idaho home.
As of press time, Butters was unable to be reached for comment on what she's doing with the historic mill.
Evans has been working to help preserve what is left of the mill even as Butters has reportly already removed the old living quarters that were attached to the mill.
"Its on the historic registry and its a very hisotric place in the Palouse. The town is concerned that a landmark is being taken apart piece by piece," Evans said. "Every once in a while, you'll see people taking apart pieces of it.
"They are afraid that they are taking the landmark down and it doesnt seem like the owner is concerned about the historic value of the landmark."
Evans contacted the town building inspector and state historian in Olympia. He hopes Oakesdale can develop ordinances similar to those of Colfax and other Palouse towns to preserve historic landmarks.
"This is our town and it seems like they are destroying parts of it. We would like to preserve it both nationally and state wide," he said. "All we want is to preserve the building and heritage that is so quickly dissapearing.
"I think bringing light to this is important," he said.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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