08/26/2026
in Clark County History: Aug. 26, 1915 — The Vancouver Columbian reported that the Washougal Woolen Mills had been sold to C. P. Bishop & Sons of Pendleton, Oregon, for $8,000 (about $264,489.50 in 2026 value)
The mill had been owned by stockholders of the former Vancouver Trust & Savings Bank, which had taken possession through a mortgage. Charles P. Bishop (1854-1941), already involved with the large Pendleton Woolen Mills in Oregon, had been operating the Washougal plant under lease for about a year and a half before purchasing it outright.
At the time, the Washougal mill was producing blankets and providing work for a number of local men and women. The new owners told the paper they expected to keep the plant operating "steadily."
More than a century later, the mill is still part of Washougal, and visitors can tour it today. Information about mill tours can be found on Pendleton Woolen Mills website.
Photo Description: From the museum's collection, this image shows the interior of the Washougal Woolen Mill's carding room. Large belt-driven textile machines fill the foreground and rows of fiber sit stacked nearby. Three workers stand among the equipment inside the high-ceilinged industrial space. Black and white; Undated. (cchm00183)
