It all began right here.

The very first sawmill in the northwest was built on Love Creek, a short stream that bursts from a hillside overlooking the Old Evergreen Highway about six miles east of Vancouver, and tumbles into the Columbia River after flowing less than a half-mile.

A historical sign built in the shape of the old Fort Vancouver indicates the sawmill was built in 1828 by the Hudson's Bay Co. It provided lumber for Fort Vancouver and planks for export to Hawaii and South America.

However, another historical sign on Highway 14 indicates the sawmill was built in 1827 and used machinery brought from England aboard a sailing vessel. The mill was powered by a waterwheel.

The first sawmill workers were French-Canadians and Kanakas from the "Sandwich Islands."

Love Creek was named for Lewis Love, who built a sawmill and gristmill on the creek in 1865. The old grinding stones from the gristmill are on display at the site.