J. M. Griffin

Standard gauge, 40-lb rail Headquarters:  Mill Location:  Rhodes, MS (Perry County)  Mill Capacity: 75,000 ft/day Years of Operation: 1917-1919 Miles Operated:  10 miles Locomotives Owned:	Equipment:	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: On November 24, 1917 J. M. Griffin, operating a mill at Blodgett, MS, bought the sawmill and timber holdings of the J. M. Hemphill Lumber Company, at Rhodes, Perry County, for $42,000. Rhodes was two miles south of Blodgett on the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad. The deal included 90,000,000 feet of longleaf yellow pine timber. The Hemphill mill was of the circular type with a cutting capacity of 75,000 feet per day. The mills at Rhodes and Blodgett, owned by J. M. Griffin, were operated jointly with the sales and operation office for both at Blodgett. On June 25, 1919 the sawmill at Rhodes burned to the ground and apparently was not rebuilt.
	J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co.'s mill at Rhodes looking southwest.
The Hemphill mill at Rhodes looking northeast. The GM&N mainline is between the mill and the stacks of crossties in the foreground.	A Shay arrives at the mill pond in Rhodes with another trainload of longleaf yellow pine logs.	Hemphill's unusual log loader appears to be home-made.
A view showing most of "downtown" Rhodes across from the mill. The building at right is the lumber company office, and next to it is the company commissary.		J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co. office at Rhodes.
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: 3   2T Shay   Lima 2140     2-1909      28      3-10x10      72000 Purchased from J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co. #3, Rhodes, MS, on 11-24-17. Built as K. C. Lumber Co. #3, Lucedale, MS; to J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co. #3, Rhodes, MS, in 1915. Transferred to Griffin operation at Blodgett, MS, in 1919.   ? 2T Heisler    Heisler 1136      12-1907      33      12½x12      62000 Purchased from J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co., Rhodes, MS, on 11-24-17. Built as Smith-McGowin Mill Co. #6, Magazine, AL; to Haney Lumber Co., Star, MS, in 1913; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL; to J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co., on 12-15-16. Sold to J. P. Griffin Lumber Co., Avera, MS; to Green Lumber Co. #3, Avera, MS, on 9-1-20; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1887, Atlanta, Ga.; to Hamburg Lumber Co., Hamburg, AR, on 9-29-23.

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