Because water power of Mill Creek was important to the early development of Salem, the early pioneers built a dam at this site in 1864 to divert this energy to practical uses. Named Waller Dam for the pioneer missionary who donated the land, this created a new watercourse, south of the original stream. Today this Mill Race flows through Mission Mill Museum, Willamette University and so on to join Pringle Creek and the Willamette River.
(SESNA)