| Alpha-Numeric Key: | HD-51 |
| Corporate Name: | McShane Lumber Company |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | McShane Lumber Company. John A. McShane, president; John A. Creighton, vice-president; W. J. Foye, general manager; E. L. McShane , secretary. |
| Location: | Dearborn, with Saratoga as a post office. |
| County: | Hardin |
| Years in Operation: | 15 years |
| Start Year: | 1904 |
| End Year: | 1918 |
| Decades: | 1900-1909,1910-1919 |
| Period of Operation: | Began manufacturing lumber in April 1904 to about 1918. |
| Town: | Dearborn (Saratoga) |
| Company Town: | 1 |
| Peak Town Size: | 800 in 1905 |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Pine and hardwood rough and finished lumber
| 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: | 85000: 1906 |
| Capacity Comments: | Between 85,000 to 125,000 feet daily. |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | Single circular and 36-inch gang, with steam machinery powering the sawmill (450 horsepower) and the planing mill (150 horsepower). Brick dry kilns. |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Beaumont & Saratoga branch of the Santa Fe |
| Historicial Development: | John A. McShane of Omaha, Nebraska, purchased large tracts of virgin timber in northwest Hardin County and began building a sawmill there late in 1903 to supply his retail lumber yards. The mill began regular operations in April the following year, and at various times the mill's capacity was reported between 85,000 and 125,000 feet per day. The mill's stumpage estimate in 1905 was fifteen years. McShane operated a two-mile company tram road from Dearborn to its logging camp. In 1906, the Company had extended the tram another six miles, and added a 20-ton Baldwin locomotive to its rolling stock. It is believed the mill was cut out around 1918, dismantled, and moved to Louisiana.
John A. McShane, was president; John A. Creighton, vice-president; W.J. Foye, general manager; E.L. McShane , secretary; F.W. Dearborn, superintendent of mills.
Little interest was expressed by McShane in the export trade in 1905.
The town of Dearborn was named for one of its early mill mangers, Frank Dearborn of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The company town in 1905 had a population of 800, a commissary, thirty-five houses, and a school. The company paid $4,500 per month in wages during that year and employed 175 men. The logging ram had eight miles of road, two locomotives (one a Baldwin), and 22 tram cars. Dr. H. B. Pedigo served as the company physician.
|
| Research Date: | JKG 10-13-93, MCJ 03-13-96 |
| Prepared By: | J Gerland, M Johnson |