Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	HR-51
Corporate Name:	Ed H. Harrell Lumber Company
Local Name:
Owner Name:	Ed H. Harrell
Location:	On bank of Buffalo Bayou in the Fifth Ward of Houston
County:	Harris
Years in Operation:	6 years
Start Year:	1905
End Year:	1910
Decades:	1900-1909,1910-1919
Period of Operation:	1905 to about 1910
Town:	Houston
Company Town:	2
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:	Steam Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:	20000: 190630000: 1908
Capacity Comments:	20,000 feet daily in 1906; 30,000 feet daily in 1908
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	A circular sawmill. The company also operated a planing mill and a sash, box, and door factory near the site.
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Texas & New Orleans
Historicial Development:	The Southern Industrial and Lumber Review reported that seven sawmills operated along Buffalo Bayou in 1908. The saw mill of the Ed H. Harrell Lumber Company was located on the bank of Buffalo Bayou in the Fifth Ward of Houston. The expanded its daily output to 30,000 board feet in 1907, which supplemented the company's already extensive sash and door factory, located near the mill site. Twenty-five men worked in the mill. Timber was transported along the railroad and dumped into a log pond in front of the mill. The rough lumber was transported directly to the company's factory for further drying, dressing, and remanufacturing. Sometime about 1910, Harrell sold his sawmill company and opened a retail and wholesale lumber commission business. He died in 1947.
Research Date:	JKG 10-13-93, MCJ 05-09-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson, J. Gerland