The Paylor family has called Grays Harbor home now for five generations. Through economic downturns and upswings, mill closures and reopenings, rainy winters and beautiful summers, we have been able to find good jobs to support our families and raise our kids.

What is it that has made us stick around here so long? The natural beauty of the entire area comes to mind for me. From the majestic old growth forests of Quinault, the Pacific Ocean at our doorstep, to the many lakes and rivers, we are lucky to live in such a stunning natural setting. So many recreational opportunities, including hiking and camping, fishing, razor clamming, mushroom hunting and forest foraging are all things that I think sometimes we take for granted. People come from all over the world to fish in our rivers, hunt in our forests, and explore that same natural beauty. Get out there and enjoy it!

Having roots that run deep here is also one of my favorite things about living here. Knowing that the

(Gabe Green | The Daily World)
Rob Paylor of Mill 109 in Seabrook.

contractor building your garden tool shed is a friend you grew up with and you’ll have his personal guarantee. The plumber who went through grade school with your dad will certainly have a funny story you haven’t heard before. You may even run into people who were customers on your grandpa’s milk route, growing up here in the 50s and 60s. It’s all happened to me, and it all feeds into the great sense of community that runs through our area. Now I get to pass that on to my kids! Hopefully, my good friend the hardware store owner will pass on a funny story about me some day when my kids visit his store to perhaps buy their kids their first fishing licenses!

Bottom line is, Grays Harbor is a great place to live, work, and play. Five generations of Paylors can’t be wrong!

Rob Paylor is a 1994 graduate of Aberdeen High School, studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Portland, and returned to Grays Harbor to work as a chef. He is now the chef/owner of Mill 109 Pub in Seabrook, serves on the North Beach School District board of directors, and lives with his two children in Aloha, just outside Pacific Beach.

Mill 109