See also, History of the Town of Thorp In 1878, James L. Mills traversed the trail over the Cascade Mountains from Puget Sound by foot, and saw great possibilities in the Kittitas Valley.

[2] He built a sawmill west of the current town site in 1879,[3] diverting water from the Yakima River to turn its wheels.

The four-story mill provided farmers throughout the Kittitas Valley with the convenience of local processing for wheat crops, as well as serving as an important hub for community activities.

[3] In 1907, the energy from the water wheel at the North Star Mill was utilized to power a steam generator having a 40-horsepower dynamo, which furnished electricity for laundering clothes two mornings each week, and for lighting homes for a few hours each evening.

[2] Kittitas Valley farmers brought their wheat crops to the Thorp Mill in wagons, and the grain was ground into flour, bran, or feed for livestock.

In 1895, the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad depot enabled importation and installation of more efficient steel roller burrs.

In addition, the North Star Mill's combination of functions and its early production of electricity draw the interest of industrial historians nationwide.