PlacesPages

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Cedar Creek Grist Mill

Photo by Cliff West

The Cedar Creek Grist Mill near Woodland, Washington, was built in 1876 by George Woodham and his sons as the Red Bird Mill. The water powered mill ground grain into flour, cornmeal, and livestock feed. In 1879, George Woodham moved to Centralia, taking his milling equipment with him, and the mill was sold to Mike Lynch. By 1881 it was sitting unused until it was leased to Gustave Utter, who built a new log dam and flume and installed a Leffel turbine. Utter sold the mill and moved away around 1901. The mill was purchased by Gorund Roslund in 1905, but didn't operate again until 1909. Roslund added a shingle mill, and his son Victor converted the main floor into a machine shop around 1912. A blacksmith shop was also added to the front of the building, operated by another of Rosland's sons, Elmer. Victor converted the upper floor into an apartment for himself, and operated the machine shop until 1953.

Photo by Cliff West

After Victor's death in the late 1950s, the Washington State Fisheries Department purchased the property to remove the dam on Cedar Creek and build a fish ladder, but the mill sat unused. In 1961 the Fort Vancouver Historical Society leased the mill. It was registered as an historic place and the foundation was replaced, but it still sat empty. The Friends of the Cedar Creek Grist Mill was formed in 1980 to restore the historic mill. The deteriorating additions were removed and the flume was extended 650 feet up Cedar Creek so the mill could operate without a dam. The mill returned to operation, milling flour on November 11, 1989, as part of the Washington State Centennial, and became a museum. In 2002, the cedar shake mill and blacksmith shop were rebuilt.

My dad, Cliff West, took these pictures in May 2007.

Yacolt Falls at Moulton Falls Park

Moulton Falls Park is located near Yacolt, Washington. The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad has a station at Moulton Falls Park where the excursion train stops.

BYCX Excursion Train approaching Moulton Falls Station

The train stops here for about 20 minutes, to give the passengers an opportunity to take the short walk into Moulton Falls Park to Yacolt Falls to appreciate the view.

Sign at Moulton Falls Station

A sign here tells a brief history of the railroad, reading as follows:

Chelatchie Prairie RailRoad BYCX

The line now used by the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad was first under construction in 1888. It was built to access the timber and other natural resources in the area. The railway has changes hands several times since its completion and was in use until 1993 when it was heavily damaged in a flood. The Battle Ground, Yacolt Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Association has been improving the rail back into working condition since 1999. Moulton Falls has for some time been an area of interest and recreation and is part of the Bells Mountain trail system.

Crossett Western 2-8-2T #10 at Moulton Falls on May 27, 2007

There is a passing siding at the Moulton Falls station, and some of the equipment the volunteers use to maintain the track is stored here when not in use.

BYCX Excursion Train at Moulton Falls Station on May 27, 2007

Below are a number of pictures of Yacolt Falls on Big Tree Creek, which is only a short walk from the tracks. This is only one of the waterfalls in Moulton Falls Park, but it is the only one that can be reached during the time the train is stopped at the Moulton Falls station. The amount of water here can vary greatly depending on the time of year. These pictures were taken at the end of May. The logs strewn across the rocks were deposited here by the high water the previous November. At times, the water level can reach to the bottom of the footbridge.

Friday, November 6, 2026

Chehalis-Centralia Railroad

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Association is based in South Chehalis, Washington.

Train Order Depot in Chehalis, Washington, on May 12, 2007

The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Association is in the process of restoring the Milwaukee Road's Chehalis train order station.

Train Order Depot in Chehalis, Washington, on May 12, 2007

The depot had been vacant since 1980 until 1995 when it was donated to the CCRA and moved here. When completed it will serve as the depot, ticket office and gift shop for the tourist train.