Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	NE-31
Corporate Name:	E. E. McDonald Lumber Company
Local Name:
Owner Name:	E . E. McDonald
Location:	Bleakwood, five miles north of Kirbyville
County:	Newton
Years in Operation:	15 years
Start Year:	1928
End Year:	1942
Decades:	1920-1929,1930-1939,1940-1949
Period of Operation:	1928 to 1942
Town:	Bleakwood
Company Town:	2
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:	Probably steam Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:	10000: 1928
Capacity Comments:	10,000 feet daily
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	A circular sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe, and the Orange & Northwestern
Historicial Development:	Ernest Elijah McDonald began sawmilling in 1908. He operated mills at Rebecca, in San Augustine County, in 1908; at Bleakwood in Newton County from about 1928 to 1942; at New Caney in Montgomery County from 1943 to 1945; and his final location, Kirbyville from 1945. His son Burton McDonald owned the company by 1966. W. T. Block writes that E.E. McDonald Lumber Company operated a small sawmill at Bleakwood from 1928 to 1942. No Bleakwood sawmills, however, appeared in the published records of the Southern Lumberman for 1928 nor the Lumbermen's Credit Association for October 1934. However, The Jacksonville Journal noted in 1947 that E. E. McDonald had a mill at one time in Bleakwood.
Research Date:	JKG 12-15-93, MCJ 01-23-96
Prepared By:	J. Gerland, M. Johnson