Historical mill that operated for 73 years being torn apart

CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. (AP) - A historic mill that operated in southern Oregon for 73 years is being taken apart to make way for a new owner.

Contractors were working on dismantling the Rough & Ready Lumber mill Wednesday, The Daily Courier reported (https://bit.ly/2ok4B1S). The mill was shut down last year due to a fall in the federal timber supply. It was the last large-scale mill in the area.

“It’s hard to imagine that Josephine County doesn’t have an operation that consumes logs,” said one of the mill’s owners Link Phillippi. “It’s a sad ending.”

Phillippi said he can’t say who the prospective owner of the 300-acre (121.41-hectare) property is, but can say the space will not be converted into a marijuana processing plant, as it is rumored.

“It’s a business looking to expand into Oregon,” he said. “There will be jobs created. It’s not a lumber producer.”

The mill has been the Illinois Valley’s largest employer for the last 50 years, with 225 employees in the 1980s. Even with operations shut down, the mill is still creating jobs.

Contractor Ben Howell said the dismantling and disbursement of the mill’s parts have created a week’s worth of work for 75 people. Workers prepared boilers, kilns and power plant to be sent to a mill in northern Washington. A large sawdust blower is being sent to a mill in northern California.

Phillippi and his staff are expected to vacate the property by the end of the month. They will continue operating their forestry company, Perpetua.

___

Information from: Daily Courier, https://www.thedailycourier.com