| Alpha-Numeric Key: | OR-1 |
| Corporate Name: | A. K. Norris |
| Local Name: | Norris Mill |
| Owner Name: | A. K. Norris, leased to Thomas and Van De Mark, and leased to W. F. Stewart & Co |
| Location: | Orange |
| County: | Orange |
| Years in Operation: | 5 years |
| Start Year: | 1877 |
| End Year: | 1881 |
| Decades: | 1870-1879,1880-1889 |
| Period of Operation: | 1877 to November 19, 1881 |
| Town: | Orange |
| Company Town: | 2 |
| Peak Town Size: | Unknown |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Lumber, sash, doors, windows
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | A 100-horsepower steam engine with three boilers.
| Horse |
Mule |
Oxen |
Water |
| Water Overshot |
Water Turbine |
Diesel |
Unknown |
| Pit |
Steam |
Steam Circular |
Steam Band |
| Gas |
Electricity |
Other |
|
|
| Maximum Capacity: | 35000: 1880 |
| Capacity Comments: | 35000 to 40000 feet daily |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | A sawmill with 4-gang saws and one circular, two planers, and a sash, door and window factory. |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Texas & New Orleans |
| Historicial Development: | A. K. Norris moved his machinery from his milling operation in Wisconsin to Orange in 1877 to start a new sawmill. The operation was located on lots 3, 4, and 5 in block 1, Orange. Alexander Gilmer apparently contested the ownership of the mill house in June 1878, but did not win. In September 1878, Thomas and Van De Mark leased the mill. Later it was leased to W. F. Stewart & Co, Galveston, in October 1879.
The Stewart mill, according to the 1880 Census, was capitalized at $20,000. An average of forty-five workers for eleven and a half hour days drew daily wages of $3.50 for skilled labor and $1.50 for unskilled. Stewart paid $20,000 annually in wages. The plant operated for the twelve months of the reporting period. From sawlogs worth $60,000 and supplies valued at $5,500, the mill manufactured ten million feet of lumber valued at $95,000. The sash and door factory employed six men and remanufactured 40,000 feet of lumber. The company did not do its own logging.
The mill site burned on November 19, 1881. Because of losses of almost $30,0000 and quite an amount of lumber as well, W. F. Stewart & Co. and Norris did not rebuild the mill. |
| Research Date: | MCJ 3-23-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |