Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: MO-20
Corporate Name: Banks Griffith
Local Name:
Owner Name: J. H. Brightwell, C. E. Brightwell, Banks Griffith
Location: Frazer's Switch, eight miles south of Conroe on west fork of the San Jacinto River and the I&GN tracks
County: Montgomery
Years in Operation: 5 years
Start Year: 1904
End Year: 1908
Decades: 1900-1909
Period of Operation: 1900s
Town: Frazer's Switch
Company Town: 1
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Lumber
Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill
Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper
Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown
Other
Power Source: 40-horsepower Ames steam engine, one 50-horsepower boiler
Horse Mule Oxen Water
Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown
Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band
Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity: 10000: 1906
Capacity Comments: 10,000 feet daily in 1906
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Curtis circular saw, commissary and merchandise, sawmill on premises leased by Brightwell Bros., all timber owned in common, also four mules, twenty oxen, three ox wagons, two Snyder wagons, and three mule log wagons.
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: International & Great Northern
Historicial Development: J. H. Brightwell was listed in the Southern Industrial and Lumber Review, as cutting 10,000 feet daily at his sawmill at Conroe. The mill was located at Frazier's Switch, and J. H. Brightwell was in business with his brother, C. E. Brightwell. C. E. Brightwell sold all his interest in the sawmill for $500 cash and $3,424 in notes to his brother, including sawmill and planer mill, one 40-horsepower Ames steam engine, one 50-horsepower boiler, one Curtis circular saw, commissary and merchandise, sawmill on premises leased by Brightwell Bros., all timber owned in common, also four mules, twenty oxen, three ox wagons, two Snyder wagons, and three mule log wagons. Banks Griffith bought at a sheriff's sale Brightwell's sawmill in 1908 for $500. Frazier's Switch was located on the west fork of the San Jacinto River where it crossed under the railroad tracks.
Research Date: MCJ 03-19-96
Prepared By: M. Johnson