J. E. North Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, 56-lb rail Headquarters:  Mill Location: Bond, MS (Stone County, was part of Harrison County) Mill Capacity: 60,000 ft/day Years of Operation: 1899-1910 Miles Operated: 12 miles in 1910 Locomotives Owned: 4?	Also see: Bond Lumber Co.     Equipment: 4 locomotives, 63 cars, 1 American log loader in 1910	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: The J. E. North Lumber Company was incorporated at Bond, Harrison County, on March 9, 1899, by J. E. North, Richard Fahey and S. D. Thayer with authorized capital stock of $25,000 with option to increase the stock to $50,000. By September 1900, the company had in operation a 60,000 foot capacity longleaf yellow pine mill, on the Gulf & Ship Island Railroad, at Bond. This mill cut mostly for export. In 1900 the officers were J. E. North, president; R. Fahey, vice president, and S. D. Thayer, secretary and treasurer as well as general manager. A new double bandmill was placed in operation in the fall of 1903. At that time six miles of logging railroad were in operation. During the financial panic of 1907 the company went into receivership. The co-receivers appointed were the Hibernia Bank & Trust Company, of New Orleans, and J. R. Pratt, of Gulfport. On June 27, 1910, the plant and other property were sold at the Gulfport Courthouse to the newly-formed Bond Lumber Company.
Gulf and Ship Island passenger train at the Bond depot circa 1902.	A rare view of J. E. North Lumber Co. Hinkley 2-6-0 No. 70.	J. E. North Lumber Co #69 at the mill pond at Bond circa 1902.
Another view of J. E. North Lumber Co #69 at the mill pond about 1902.	Number 69 was named for S. D. Thayer, secretary and general manager of the lumber company.	The new mill of J. E. North Lumber Co. under construction in 1902.
Another view of the mill under construction.	J. E. North Lumber Co.'s new mill near completion in 1903.	Another view of the new mill.
New mill in 1903.	View looking north from the sawmill at Bond. Gulf & Ship Island RR tracks are on the left, while the private logging railroad of the lumber company heads northeast from the mill pond on the right.	A large group of people congregate at the edge of the mill pond for this photo. No idea what the special occasion was. Opening of the new mill, perhaps???
What is likely the older sawmill at Bond originally built by the Gulfport Lumber Co. and purchased by J. E. North Lumber Co. on December 20, 1898. It was replaced in 1903 by the much larger new mill.	Likely the older mill at Bond in 1902. It had a cutting capacity of 60,000 board feet per day,	Another nice view of what is thought to be the older sawmill at Bond in 1902.
It looks like a stack of lumber collapsed... storm damage perhaps?	New planing mill about 1903.	Another view of the new planing mill about 1903.
Mill worker housing lined the logging railroad northeast of the mill pond.	More worker housing between the logging railroad and the G&SI tracks north of the mill pond.	Turpentine still likely operated by the lumber company at Bond.
Another view of the turpentine still at Bond.	Back of the lumber company office and commissary at Bond.	Looking northwest from the near the depot of houses along "Sawdust Avenue."
House at Bond.	House at Bond.	View looking south along "Sawdust Avenue" from near the G&SI depot. Lumber company's office and commissary at right.
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman : 69          4-4-0                                                                                                                                                                  Purchased secondhand in 11-1899. Named “S. D. Thayer.”     70            2-6-0                   Hinkley                  1317                    2-1879                     57                    18x24                      90600 Purchased from Terre Haute & Indianapolis “A” in 4-1904. Built as Terre Haute & Indianapolis #10, renumb. “A” in 12-1903.   71?          0-6-0                                                                                                                                       18x22                      Purchased from Hicks Locomotive & Car Works, Chicago, IL in 1904.   Note: the company owned at least one additional locomotive by 1910.

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If you have additional photos or information, please contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com  David S. Price at davidsprice46@gmail.com  or Brian Johnston at johnston127235@bellsouth.net