Explore Millwood during historic walking tour
The 1920s. A decade noted for flappers, the Charleston, bobbed hair, and prohibition. Charlie Chaplin entertained audiences with his silent antics and F. Scott Fitzgerald published the classic “The Great Gatsby.”
During this colorful era, a homesteading community originally known as “Woodard Junction” became an official town known today as Millwood. The rich history of its founding and development will be highlighted during the Historic Millwood Walking Tour conducted by the Millwood Historical Society on Saturday and Sunday. The tour is the Millwood Historical Society’s 80th anniversary celebration of Millwood becoming a town.
“We’re trying to impart to the general public that this is an operating town,” said Greg Mott, Millwood Historic Society Member and co-author of Millwood Washington Historic Walking Tour. “Quite often people think of Millwood as just a housing district or bedroom community.”
“I think it is great when communities showcase their wonderful and unique architectural heritage by hosting a walking tour,” said Megan Duvall, certified local government coordinator, and survey program manager of the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. “Millwood has a variety of architectural styles, and the tour is a fantastic chance for community members and tourists alike to learn a bit more about the history of the town.”
The tour begins at Millwood Presbyterian Church’s youth center, The Crossing, 8919 E. Euclid Ave. with a short slide show presentation on the town’s early history followed by a 45-minute guided walk through the historic neighborhood.
Mott will lead participants through the eight-square block area listed on the National Historic Register. He describes his tour “short, sweet and simple” and plans to highlight the main historic points along with interesting stories about Millwood’s first residents.
“I talk about the people who lived here and their idiosyncrasies,” Mott said. “Such as Mr. Rosebush’s (the mill’s general manager) love of big band music and guns or Mr. Tiffin the druggist, who was a prankster by nature. We want people to know those things.”
Along with interesting stories about past residents, Mott points out key architectural designs. According to Mott, several different architectural styles reign in Millwood, from Tudor Revival cottages to Craftsman bungalows. The designs were taken from house plan books.
“The homes were built the way they were for a purpose and a reason,” Mott said. “They have a history to them. I think it will give an appreciation of where you live.”
In conjunction with Mott’s tour, The Inland Empire Paper Company (IEP) is conducting separate tours through their facility for the first time in 21 years.
“We conducted tours during our 75th anniversary in 1986,” said Shirene Young, IEP purchasing agent. “The Historical Society approached us to do the tour. We are related to Millwood’s history and definitely wanted to be a part of that.”
Inland Empire Paper Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cowles Publishing Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.
The Millwood Masonic Temple, 3219 North Argonne Road, and The Millwood Presbyterian Church, 3223 North Marguerite Road, will be open on a drop-in basis during tour hours.
“Millwood has a rich history,” said Millwood Community Presbyterian Church Pastor Craig Goodwin. ” I’ve noticed there is a growing interest in the community to be more connected to that history. As we move forward as a community, people are recognizing that is an important part.”