R. B. Gunn Lumber Co.

36" gauge, 30-lb rail

Headquarters: Eastabuchie, MS

Mill Location: S. Eastabuchie, MS (Forrest County)

Mill Capacity: 25,000 ft/day 

Years of Operation: 1910-1915

Miles Operated: 2 miles

Locomotives Owned: 1

Equipment:

3 log cars

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

On September 20, 1909, R. B. Gunn and his wife purchased approximately 500 acres of pine and hardwood timber from the Wedgeworth family, of Eastabuchie. Part of this purchase included a mill site on the New Orleans & Northeastern, about two miles south of Eastabuchie. This had been the site of the mill of Johnson & Denham. Gunn was given two years to cut the Wedgeworth timber, from January 1, 1910. In February 1912, the R. B. Gunn Lumber Company contracted with the Wheland Company, of Chattanooga, TN, for sawmill machinery and built a sawmill of 25,000 feet daily cutting capacity at Eastabuchie, Jones County. In October of that year two miles of logging railroad were completed to log the mill. The following summer a planing mill was added only to have the sawmill close in October 1913, because of lack of timber. The following year, 1914, a new tract of timber was bought and the sawmill reopened. In 1915 the mill cut out and closed for good.

For a detailed history of this operation see: Steam Whistles in the Piney Woods Volume 2, by Gilbert H. Hoffman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:     

 

 

Road No.

 

Type

 

Builder

 

C.N.

 

Date

 

Cyls.

 

Dri. Dia.

 

Engine

Wt.

 

Previous Ownership

 

Disposition

 

2?

 

17-2 Heisler

 

Stearns

 

1022

 

1898

 

10x10

 

30

 

34000

 

Unknown.

R. B. Gunn, ca. 11/1912.

 

Thompson Brothers Lumber Co. #2, Climax, AL, in 1915.

Climax Saw Mill Co. #2, Climax, AL, on 12/3/1917.

Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1287, by 2/1918.

Jackson Brothers Lumber Co. #5, Heflin, AL,

on 7/22/1919.

Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1865

Alexander Brothers #2, Red Gum, LA, on 8/30/1923.

 

 

 

 

 

                                     HOME                                              ABOUT  US                                              LINKS           

 

 

 

For more information contact Tony Howe at howe6818@bellsouth.net or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net