Pendleton Woolen Mill Tour

Friday, August 4, 2017

We take a drive to downtown Pendleton making a visit to the Visitor Center to find out more about what is here to see in Pendleton as well as in the area.  Unfortunately, the smoke is still very prevalent and will make for poor pictures as they are not as clear as we would like.

Pendleton began to develop in 1851 when Dr. William C. McKay established a trading post at the mouth of the McKay Creek.  The city was originally called Marshall but later renamed Pendleton in 1868 for George H. Pendleton, a Democratic candidate for vice president in the 1864 presidential campaign.   It was incorporated on October 25, 1880.

We stop is at the Pendleton Wool Mill where we browse around the store before taking a short tour of the Mill itself.   

The Mill was founded in 1909 by Clarence, Roy and Chauncey Bishop and built upon an earlier business related to the sheep ranches in the region.  The Bishops developed a line of garments and blankets with vivid colors and intricate patterns which are still used today.  The company is still owned by the sixth generation of the Bishop family.  Lots of beautiful blankets, shirts, throws, saddle blankets, etc. but alas I did not find anything I want to purchase. 

The tour began by showing us the many spools of thread which have been put on these spools from the spindles.

Our tour guide showing overall process of wool to thread

Below is the process of taking wool through the various processes until they are made into the thread on a spindle.  The machines are behind a rather cloudy and smeary glass.where we watched as raw wool was put through the processes and finally ending on spindles filled with thread. 

The spindles are dyed in another place, then returned to the Mill to be made into blankets.  Some of the looms work faster than others and the number of blankets made each day depends on the style and machine.  A continuous roll of the same style blanket (around 16) is put on the loom then later cut to size. 

After the blankets come off the loam, they are rolled through the below rollers where  an individual then checks by eye the blanket for any flaws, etc. 

While the tour was interesting, I felt that the young man who gave it was in hurry to get through and did not give the detail that could have made it more interesting and informative.

Tomorrow we will see what else there is to see in town.  It is really hot here today and even with both the air conditioners working at times, it is still very hot in the RV.  It is more comfortable to drive in the car with air conditioning and go into air conditioned buildings.