| Alpha-Numeric Key: | SH-198 |
| Corporate Name: | R. O. Lovelady Lumber Company |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | R. O. Lovelady Lumber Company |
| Location: | One mile northwest of Center |
| County: | Shelby |
| Years in Operation: | 12 years |
| Start Year: | 1946 |
| End Year: | 1957 |
| Decades: | 1940-1949,1950-1959 |
| Period of Operation: | 1946 to 1957 |
| Town: | Center |
| Company Town: | 2 |
| Peak Town Size: | 4,323 in Census of 1950 |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Pine 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: | 20000: 1947 |
| 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: | Sawmill |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Unknown |
| Historicial Development: | The R. O. Lovelady opened its plant at Center in 1946 reported The Jacksonville Journal. Earlier, Lovelady milled lumber at Jerico on Highway 711 from 1931 to 1946. He also had a cotton gin operation at Patroon, which had been functioning since 1923.
H. C. Goodwyn supervised the plant's thirty male workers. Logging was done on Lovelady stumpage totaling three million standing feet of lumber.
R. O. Lovelady Lumber Company was listed in the Directory of Texas Manufacturers, 1956-1958. Established in 1945, the firm produced rough lumber with about twenty-five workers. |
| Research Date: | MCJ 03-02-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |