Juliette

Please note that this property is not open to the public

(5.8 acres)

Directions

On Baker Creek Road, 1.3 miles past Powerhouse Hill Road.

Features

• Stream
• Historical

This undeveloped park on Baker Creek contains the relics of a dam that was part of McMinnville's first electric generating plant. Future development of the park will celebrate our past.

History

Paul A. Barber generously donated the park to Yamhill County in 1975. Its name honors Juliette Barber.

In the early 1900's as industry in McMinnville grew, attention shifted to the electrical generating capability of Baker Creek, west of the city. The dam was constructed in 1906. A 26" wooden pipe connected the 25-foot dam to a generating plant 1 1/2 miles downstream, at the present Power House Park site. The system was capable of producing approximately 200 kW of power.

In the 1920's steel replaced the system's original wooden pipe connecting the dam and power house. In 1950, the power generation facilities were completely automated. 13 years later, regional rate changes made it no longer profitable for McMinnville to operate the system. It was decommissioned soon thereafter.

Native Plant List

• Western redcedar
• Big leaf maple
• Vine maple
• Willow
• Sword fern