Saugos is an ancient Prussian and Curonian settlement with roots dating back over 600 years. Based on its name, it may have been a border village of the ancient Lamatians or Curonians, established to protect their lands from enemy attacks. This could have led to the origin of the modern name of the settlement. The place name Saugen was first mentioned in 1540. After World War II, the settlement was renamed in Lithuanian as Saugos.
Significant changes took place in the 19th century. A brick Evangelical Lutheran church was built, and a police district office was established. Additionally, a highway and a railway line connecting Klaipėda with Tilžė were constructed, bringing significant economic benefits and contributing to the expansion of the town.
The construction of the Saugos prayer house began in 1845. The rectangular, red brick church with a small tower was tall and massive. The single-nave church with an apse was decorated by an artist and featured a combined altar-pulpit, spacious choir stalls, a 14-register organ, and a single bell.
The construction of the Saugos prayer house began in 1845. The rectangular, red brick church with a small tower was tall and massive. The single-nave church with an apse was decorated by an artist and featured a combined altar-pulpit, spacious choir stalls, a 14-register organ, and a single bell.
The church suffered some damage during the war, but the local people easily restored it. Today, Evangelical Lutheran services continue to be held here.
The Saugos mill, built in 1908, served as a secondary mill to the Vilkyčiai mill. In Vilkyčiai, there was not just a mill but an entire station, which supplied flour to Memel (now Klaipėda). As the power of the Vilkyčiai mill became insufficient, it was decided to build another mill in Saugos. The equipment for the Saugos mill was brought from Germany by train. Initially, the mill and the sawmill below it were powered by a steam engine, but in 1936, a single-cylinder diesel engine was installed. When it was started, puffs of smoke could be seen from the chimney every 30 seconds, indicating that the millstones were turning and grinding the grain.
With the advent of electricity, an electric motor was installed in 1953. The mill was built using bricks made in Šilutė, and even today, not a single crack can be seen in them.
Although the mill has long ceased to be an essential part of daily life, it remains a significant cultural heritage site. Thanks to heritage enthusiasts, the mill has retained its original technological equipment, as well as authentic Swedish and German sawmill components and transport wagons. The mill also housed a sawmill, which has survived to this day.