Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	PK-48
Corporate Name:	H. F. Smith
Local Name:
Owner Name:	H. F. Smith
Location:	Chamber's Switch, just south of the Neches River; Miami; Renova; Clark's Ferry; Clark's Station.
County:	Polk
Years in Operation:	3 years
Start Year:	1887
End Year:	1889
Decades:	1880-1889
Period of Operation:	1887 to 1889
Town:	Chamber's Switch, just south of the Neches River, perhaps Miami; Renova; Clark's Ferry
Company Town:	2
Peak Town Size:	Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Lumber Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown Other
Power Source:	Steam Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:
Capacity Comments:	Unknown
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Houston East & West Texas
Historicial Development:	The H. F. Smith sawmill was situated at Chamber's Switch, located just south of the Neches River along the tracks of the Houston East & West Texas in the community of Miami: a county bill of sale recorded that a certain site was “known as the H. F. Smith sawmill at Miami on the Neches River.” Polk County tax records note that Smith rendered for taxes forty-two acres of the Solomon Adams survey in 1887 and forty-three acres of the Samuel Love survey in 1889. The tracts had common boundaries and bordered the Neches River and were intersected by the railroad tracks. The steam machinery of Smith's was valued at $2,500 in 1889. H. F. Smith was not located on the county tax rolls in the years 1890 or 1891.
Research Date:	JKG 5-2-95, MCJ 02-27-96
Prepared By:	J Gerland, M. Johnson