Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	HD-35
Corporate Name:	Keith Lumber Company
Local Name:
Owner Name:	Keith Lumber Company. William Graydon Hardwood Company
Location:	Grayburg, two miles south of Sour Lake
County:	Hardin
Years in Operation:	9 years
Start Year:	1920
End Year:	1928
Decades:	1920-1929
Period of Operation:	1920 to 1928
Town:	Grayburg
Company Town:	1
Peak Town Size:	500 in 1928
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill:	Hardwoods; furniture and vehicle dimension stock. 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:
Capacity Comments:	Producing 15,000 feet daily in 1928 with a cutting capacity of 100,000 feet daily.
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Circular sawmill, edgers, trimmers.
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Texas & New Orleans
Historicial Development:	William Graydon Hardwood Company operated a circular sawmill at Grayburg. The Gulf Coast Lumberman reported in 1920 that the Williams-Graydon Hardwood Company at Grayburg intended to double its cutting capacity. The journal misspelled the name as Grayson Hardwood Company, at Sour Lake, in September, 1920, and reported that the company was increasing capacity from 15,000 daily feet to 50,000. In 1928, it was producing 15,000 feet daily in lumber, according to the Southern Lumberman's Directory of American Saw Mills and Planing Mills, 5th edition. The Gulf Coast Lumberman reported in October, 1928, that Keith Lumber Company, of Beaumont, purchased the lumber facility. It also noted that the plant had a 100,000-feet daily cutting capacity.
Research Date:	MCJ 03-13-96
Prepared By:	M. Johnson