Sawmill DatabaseTexas Forestry Museum

Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:

SJ-3

Corporate Name:

A. P. Willis Lumber Co.

Local Name:

Owner Name:

A. P. Willis Lumber Co. P. E. Castleberry.

Location:

Shepherd

County:

San Jacinto

Years in Operation:

7 years

Start Year:

1951

End Year:

1957

Decades:

1950-1959

Period of Operation:

1951 to 1957

Town:

Shepherd

Company Town:

Peak Town Size:

Unknown

Mill Pond:

Type of Mill:

Rough and finished lumber

Sawmill	Pine Sawmill	Hardwood Sawmill	Cypress Sawmill
Planer	Planer Only	Shingle	Paper
Plywood	Cotton	Grist	Unknown
Other

Power Source:

G. M. diesel power unit

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 and planing mill

Company Tram:

Associated Railroads:

Unknown

Historicial Development:

A. P. Willis bought a small lumbering facility and sawmill community at or near Shepherd in 1951 from P. E. Castleberry for $50,000. The assets included the sawmill, a planing mill, houses, carriages, buildings, lumber, and logs. The A. P. Willis Lumber Company mortgaged a rebuilt diesel GM power unit to Stewart & Stevenson on October 18, 1954. The company appeared in the 1957 edition of Nelson T. Samson's Directory of Wood-Using and Related Industries in East Texas.

Research Date:

MCJ 02-23-96

Prepared By:

M. Johnson