Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key:	HD-91
Corporate Name:	Texas Lumber Manufacturing Company
Local Name:
Owner Name:	Texas Lumber Manufacturing Company with “T. J.” Williams [David Williams]. Williams Brothers.
Location:	Honey Grove [Honey Island]
County:	Hardin
Years in Operation:	2 years
Start Year:	1908
End Year:	1909
Decades:	1900-1909
Period of Operation:	1908 to 1909
Town:	Honey Grove
Company Town:	1
Peak Town Size:	Seventy-five new houses in 1908
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:	Steam Horse Mule Oxen Water Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity:
Capacity Comments:	Unknown
Produced:	Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board Treated Other
Equipment:	Sawmill, planing mill, dry kilns
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads:	Unknown
Historicial Development:	The Southern Industrial and Lumber Review reported in July 1908 that the work force at the Williams mill had Honey Island over the 11-hour work day. The company had precipitated the strike when it increased hours without increasing pay. Williams Bros state that the pay structure must remain in order for the mill to be profitable, or the mill must be shut down. The workers at Lufkin Land & Lumber had accepted a similar propostion a week before after a strike. The Southern Industrial and Lumber Review in March 1909 reported that T. J. Williams had a mill at Honey Grove and the Williams Lumber Company at Thicket. The latter mill and company was owned by David J. Williams, so it is certain that a simple typographical error was made by the review or that the writer confused D. J. Williams with T. J. Williams, a sawmiller active at this time in Nacogdoches and Angelina counties. The Honey Grove (meaning Honey Island) sawmill was receiving new equipment, including dry kilns and more boiler power for the planing mill. In October 1908, the Southern Lumberman reported that the mill was being expanded and seventy-five new tenant houses were being built. David J. Williams had interests in other sawmills in the Thicket and Bragg areas, several miles west of Honey Island.
Research Date:	MCJ 04-11-96
Prepared By:	M Johnson