| Alpha-Numeric Key: | GR-28 |
| Corporate Name: | Keisler Lumber Company |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | Keisler Lumber Company. Keisler Brothers. J. T. Keisler. George and Lester Keisler. |
| Location: | Bounded by Brazos, Pine, Trinity, and Mulberry Streets in Richards |
| County: | Grimes |
| Years in Operation: | 51 years |
| Start Year: | 1930 |
| End Year: | 1980 |
| Decades: | 1930-1939,1940-1949,1950-1959,1960-1969,1970-1979,1980-1989 |
| Period of Operation: | About 1930 to 1980 |
| Town: | Richards |
| Company Town: | 1 |
| Peak Town Size: | 100 in 1934 |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Rough and dressed pine lumber
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | Steam and diesel
| 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 planer |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | International & Great Northern |
| Historicial Development: | The Keisler Lumber Company at Richards began about 1930, when the sons of J. T. Keisler, George and Lester, built a sawmill on the location of their father's cotton gin. The Lumbermen's Credit Rating Book, October 1934 listed the mill in its edition. The operation was later noted by Nelson Samson in 1957 and 1966. The Directory of Texas Manufacturers 1956-1958 noted that in 1957 George H. Keisler was managing less than ten employees in the manufacture of rough and dressed pine lumber.
Located in Richards, centered between the streets of Brazos, Pine, Trinity, and Mulberry, the mill operated until it was closed about 1980 because it could not comply with federal EPA regulations. |
| Research Date: | MCJ 03-06-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |