As a grandson of Don “DR” Johnson, founder of DR Johnson Lumber Co., Kyle Westbrooks said he always knew he wanted to work at his grandpa’s mills.

“As I got older, and started learning more and more about my Grandpa and his accomplishments, it got much more personal for me,” said Westbrooks, business development manager for DR Johnson Lumber Co. “I want to be able to look back and say I helped keep my grandpa’s legacy alive.”

Located in Prairie City, the Prairie Wood Products property was bought in 1976 by DR Johnson Lumber Co and the mill was built by Johnson. The mill closed in 2008 during the Great Recession, with a brief reopening in 2009 before closing down officially at the end of that year.

The mill restarted again on July 11, 2022.

“We always knew we wanted to get it back up and running,” Westbrooks said. “That’s why we held onto it for so long in idle. My grandpa was very passionate about that community and that mill.”

He added that the market conditions in 2008 made it difficult for the mill to run and his family was “forced to make decisions they didn’t want to make.”

“My grandpa was sick and unfortunately they didn’t have him to lean on for advice during those tough times,” he said.

With the reopening of the mill, Prairie City has seen an influx of 50 new jobs. Jim Hamsher, Grant County commissioner and Prairie City mayor for 12 years, said that it’s been “really significant on our county.”

“It’s been huge for the town,” he said. “I’ve seen our minimart have to put on extra help to help with all the people coming in for lunch and breakfast.”

Hamsher said that when the mill closed it put a strain on the town, the school population decreased and businesses suffered. He said many residents who had been employed had to take public assistance, but they now have an opportunity to support their families.

“The benefits are really ten-fold from the jobs it creates,” he said, adding that the mills are crucial to the economic vitality of Prairie City. “It’s such an important thing here we got. Our counties are remotely located. We don’t have a lot of businesses wanting to pour in here and produce products.”

Westbrooks said the decision to reopen Prairie Wood Products happened after the company reopened another stud mill in 2021, Umpqua Lumber, located in Myrtle Creek. He said the company had great success with that and it was time to take another look at Prairie Wood Products.

Since the mill reopened, Westbrooks said that the community response has been “outstanding” with residents sharing how excited and thankful they are to have the the mill running again.

“We would not be where we are today without the community behind us,” he said. “We have heard great stories about how the community has benefited from us being back. We are here for the community and stand behind them.”

Westbrooks said when he walks around town he still hears stories about his grandpa and wishes that his grandpa was alive to see the mill’s reopening.

“Its personal because I know how important that facility and community was to him,” Westbrooks said. “And now I have people I care about working at Prairie Wood Products. It’s just really special to see all the good that has came from it.”