Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: GG-81
Corporate Name: R. G. Brown
Local Name:
Owner Name: R. G. Brown and J. J. Flewellen
Location: Longview: Methvin and Sixth streets
County: Gregg
Years in Operation: 16 years
Start Year: 1893
End Year: 1908
Decades: 1890-1899,1900-1909
Period of Operation: 1890s to 1908
Town: Longview
Company Town: 1
Peak Town Size: 3591 in 1905
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Yellow pine lumber
Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill
Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper
Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown
Other
Power Source: Two 60-horsepower and one 50-horsepower steam engines for running the sawmill and planing mill
Horse Mule Oxen Water
Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown
Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band
Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity: 20000: 1906
Capacity Comments: 20,000 feet daily
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Sawmill and general store and planing mill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: Texas & Pacific. Texas, Sabine Valley & Northwestern, became Texas & Gulf in 1905
Historicial Development: R. G. Brown and J. J. Flewellen, both of Harrison County, partnered early in lumbering at Longview in Gregg County. They bought land in Upshur and Gregg counties, and Brown was running a tram road eleven miles into Upshur County by 1893 to the banks of the Little Cypress Bayou. Brown bought out Flewellen sometime before 1900. The “Lumber Mills of Texas,” Southern Industrial and Lumber Review noted that the R. G. Brown sawmill was cutting 20,000 feet daily in 1906. Also listed in the LCA for 1905 and 1907, the mill was a member of the Yellow Pine Manufacturers Association. A map published in 1907 places the mill to the south of the Texas & Pacific tracks and to the east of the end of Methvin and North streets. Equipment included two 60-horsepower steam engines for running the sawmill and a 50-horsepower steam engine for the planing mill. The Brown and Flewellen Lumber Company of Longview dissolved in January 1908 when R. G. Brown bought out J. J. Flewellen. The sale included a nine-mile tram that ran nine miles north from Longview, all sawmills, planers, warehouses, commissaries, etc. The sale price was $5,000.
Research Date: MCJ 04-20-96
Prepared By: M. Johnson