William de la Barre
After the Washburn A Mill explosion in 1878, a young Vienna-born engineer called on owner Cadwallader C. Washburn with a dust-collecting device that he said would prevent such accidents. Washburn hired him to oversee rebuilding the A Mill. William de la Barre stayed as the engineer for the milling companies that controlled the use of the falls. By improving the water distribution system, he increased the over-all output of waterpower nearly six times. His work ushered in the era of hydroelectricity at the falls, and he remained active until his death in 1936.
Marker is on West River Parkway ¼ mile west of Portland Avenue South, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
