Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: NA-47
Corporate Name: Robert Howard Lee
Local Name:
Owner Name: Robert Howard Lee
Location: Nacogdoches: southwest loop 224 and Southern Pacific tracks in Davidson's pasture
County: Nacogdoches
Years in Operation: 8 years
Start Year: 1895
End Year: 1902
Decades: 1890-1899,1900-1909
Period of Operation: About 1895 to 1902
Town: Nacogdoches
Company Town: 2
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Ties and timbers for railroads and oil fields
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: 1900
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: Circular sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: Texas and New Orleans Railway (later Southern Pacific)
Historicial Development: The American Lumberman of January 21, 1905 stated: “Howard Lee, who owns a large mill at Garrison and has the reputation of having been in the lumber business longer than anyone else in Nacogdoches County, was in Beaumont for a few days last week. He has owned mills at Lola, on the Houston, East and West Texas; at Nacogdoches and at Fitze, from which latter place he moved his mill to Garrison.” The Nacogdoches newspaper noted that “W. G. Harrington is putting up a planer on the Lee mill site, instead of Mr. Lee, as stated yesterday. Mr. Lee, however, is superintending the work. Joe Langston is keeping books for Mr. Harrington.” This mill was located in the old Davidson pasture until about 1902. W. G. Harrington put his original planer in the spot but then was ordered to move it in February 1903 when the Texas and New Orleans rented or leased the area for its expansion efforts in making Nacogdoches the freight headquarters for the railroad company. The R. H. Lee mill at Nacogdoches was not listed in the 1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association.
Research Date: MCJ 02-10-96
Prepared By: M Johnson