PORT TOWNSEND — Saturday’s open house at the Port Townsend Paper Corp. was a long time coming, as the last such event was in 1949.
“We want for people to see what we do here,” said company spokeswoman Emily Hayes.
“The mill is just a building, but we want people to know the people behind it and their place in the community.”
The open house is set from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 100 Mill Road at the east end of Thomas Street.
A shuttle bus will operate between the mill and the Haines Street Park & Ride every 15 minutes beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Thirty-minute tours of the facility that demonstrate the recycling process, paper manufacturing and a look at some of the machines are now sold out, with 300 people signed up.
Space is still available for the event, which features hamburgers and hot dogs, a bouncy castle for children and the opportunity to talk to company personnel “about what we do and how we do it,” according to a message on the mill’s RSVP line.
Those interested in attending should leave a message at 360-379-2028 or email openhouse@ptpc.com.
Those leaving messages will have their reservations acknowledged by the end of the week, according to the message.
Hayes said impetus for the open house came from Roger Hagen, who has served as company president since May 2013.
“At the open house people will get to see where and how we make our products, but you’ll also see our history and meet our people,” Hayes said.
“There seems to be quite a bit of mystery surrounding our operations, and we really want to educate our community.”
It won’t take another 65 years before there is another open house at the mill, Hayes said.
“This won’t be an annual event, but we’ll probably have another one within the next five years,” she said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
