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Thompson Mills and Boston Town Historical Archaeology Field School, Linn County, Oregon

Investigations by Julie Schablitsky
Summer 2005

During the last three weeks of August, University of Oregon and Oregon State University students and archaeologists, along with local volunteers, participated in a historical archaeology field school at the Thompson Mills Heritage Site in Linn County, Oregon. Owned by the Oregon State Parks, the property contains the oldest, continuously operating water mill in the state, a turn-of-the-century Queen Anne Victorian house, the archaeological remains of the short lived town of Boston (1861-1880s), the buried site of a 19th century homestead (1860s-ca. 1910), historic-period trash scatters, and a late prehistoric component. The state plans to open the park to the public within the next two years and discoveries from the field school are helping to guide its development.

Students and archaeologists concentrated their efforts within the town of Boston and the William and Mary Simmons homestead. Using magnetometer findings to direct placement of shovel probes, archaeologists soon realized years of plowing erased the site integrity of Boston. Churned fragments of 19th century dishware, bottles, and cut nails are the only evidence a settlement ever existed in the field. After several days of work, the archaeologists abandoned the town of Boston and moved their efforts to the William and Mary Simmon's homestead.

Simmons Home with Thompson Family ca. 1890s.

Immigrating to America from the United Kingdom, William and Mary Simmons purchased land immediately adjacent to the mill where they built a wood frame home during the early 1860s. Mr. Simmons owned and operated the flour mill for over 30 years when he sold his share to Martin Thompson in 1897. Archaeologists used photographs to triangulate the home site location and quickly exposed its architectural remains. A ghost-like outline of a builder's trench and slivers from a timber foundation revealed the orientation and approximate size of the structure. The field school students also found pioneer redware, thrown by the first Willamette Valley potter, Barnett Ramsay; large internal rills attributed to Mr. Ramsay's large hands and mica flecking in the external slip glaze confirmed the local potter's connection to the site. Back yard units yielded sheet refuse containing sherds of mocha and sponge decorated earthenware cups and a teapot, along with a porcelain doll head, and late prehistoric projectile points.

The University of Oregon's field school discovered historic-period agricultural practices erased the archaeological integrity of Boston; however, the Simmon's homestead provided information on mid 19th century construction practices and presented dozens of fragments from locally made pots, jars, and crocks. Discovery of Barnett Ramsay's redware sherds in the home, along with William Simmon's connection to the flour mill, encouraged research on early trade relationships between Willamette Valley pioneers. A report documenting the findings from the town of Boston, the Simmon's homestead, and conclusions on whether a trade relationship existed between the local pioneers and the early flour mill will be available by next summer.

Local Willamette Valley redware found in site just outside of Simmons home.