| Alpha-Numeric Key: | CK-344 |
| Corporate Name: | Sessions Lumber Company |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | Rube Sessions |
| Location: | Forest |
| County: | Cherokee |
| Years in Operation: | 8 years |
| Start Year: | 1905 |
| End Year: | 1912 |
| Decades: | 1900-1909,1910-1919 |
| Period of Operation: | About 1905 to 1912 |
| Town: | Forest
|
| Company Town: | 1 |
| Peak Town Size: | Unknown |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Crossties only at first, then some and finally only rough and dressed lumber.
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | Diesel then 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: | Probably circular, planing mill, open “Arkansas” smoke kiln |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) |
| Historicial Development: | Rube Sessions operated a sawmill near Forrest from about 1905. He used his diesel sawmill to cut railroad ties between Wells and Forest. He slowly began to diversify, according to H. C. Polk, Jr., and began “making a little lumber while they was making crossties.” Eventually, Sessions stopped production of crossties, erected a planer and along with the sawmill manufactured lumber only. In 1912, he moved his sawmill and planer to Wells. See entry for Sessions Lumber Company at Wells, Cherokee County. A newspaper report dated 1943 states the mill was built originally at Wells, with which Polk agrees, but Sessions probably did not move his mill there until 1918. |
| Research Date: | MCJ 01-31-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |