Mississippi Rails

Deemer Manufacturing Co. (1906-1917)

New Deemer Manufacturing Co. (1917-1924)

Adams-Newell Lumber Co. (1924-1933)

Reynolds Lumber Co. (1933-1940)

Standard Gauge 60-lb rail

Headquarters and mill location: Deemer, MS (Neshoba County)

Years of Operation: 1906-1940

Mill Capacity: 50,000 ft/day in 1910

Miles Operated: 15 in 1910

Locomotives Owned: 7

Equipment:

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

The Deemer Manufacturing Company was incorporated in Tioga County, PA. In late 1906 the company acquired 40,000 acres of timber near Philadelphia, MS, and built a sawmill at Deemer, two miles south of Philadelphia, on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad. In 1910 the cutting capacity of the Deemer mill was 75,000 feet per day.

On August 27, 1917, Swords R. Lee, A. Albert, Robert Slack and Dr. W. D. Hass, all of Alexandria, La., and Emil Sundbery, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, purchased the sawmill and timber holdings of the Deemer Manufacturing Company, at Deemer, Neshoba County for $1,000,000. The sawmill was a double band type with a cutting capacity of 100,000 feet per day. The New Deemer Manufacturing Company was then formed to operate the property.

The Adams-Newell Lumber Company bought the sawmill and timber holdings of the New Deemer Manufacturing Company at Deemer, Neshoba County, on May 31, 1924, for $875,000. Included in the purchase were a 100,000 ft. daily capacity sawmill, 12 miles of logging railroad, 4 locomotives and 50 log cars. Officers of the company were: Frank L. Adams, of Jackson, MS, president; C. H. Howell, of Oklahoma City, vice president, and J. C. Liggett, of Morton, MS, secretary and treasurer. The mill at Deemer cut 65 percent pine and 35 percent hardwoods.

The Reynolds Lumber Company, composed of H. D. Reynolds, A. B. Banks and J. C. Liggett, bought the holdings of the Adams-Newell Lumber Company, at Deemer, on September 28, 1933, for $282,000. The Reynolds plant was taken over by the Deemer Lumber Company in March 1940.

New Deemer Mfg. No. 1 at the mill at Deemer with a full load of logs for the mill pond.

Deemer Manufacturing No. 1, a trim Lima mogul (2-6-0) looks to be fairly new in this postcard view.

Deemer Mfg. operated at least one Barnhart log loader, as attested to in this photo.

A log spur in the Pearl River swamps is an excellent illustration of "corduroy" method of supporting crossties with small logs lengthwise underneath to provide additional support in boggy areas.

An excellent overview of the town of Deemer that grew up around the mill. Deemer was at one time larger than nearby Philadelphia. The two-story building in the center was the heart of the town... the company offices and commissary. The depot is seen just beyond it. A short 4-wheel "bobber" caboose can be seen on a NOM&C freight near the depot.

Shay No. 2 with a load of logs and Barnhart loader No. 1.

Locomotive Roster by Gil Hoffman:
1              2-6-0                   Lima                        1031                    5-1906                     36                    14x18                      59600

Built as Gates Lumber Co. #6, Wilmar, AR; diverted to Deemer Manufacturing Co.

Sold to New Deemer Manufacturing Co. #1, Deemer, MS, on 8-27-1917; to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #1, Deemer, MS, on 5-31-1924; to Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #1, Morton, MS; to Simpson County Gravel Co. #1, Saratoga, MS, in 2-1929.

2              2T Shay             Lima                        1954                    6-1907                     29½                 3-10x12                   74000

Purchased new.

Sold to New Deemer Manufacturing Co. #2, Deemer, MS, on 8-27-1917; to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #2, Deemer, MS, on 5-31-1924; to Reynolds Lumber Co. #2, Deemer, MS, on 9-28-1933.

3              2T Shay             Lima                        2692                    10-1913                   32                    3-11x12                   107500

Purchased from Lima Locomotive Works through Woodward-Wight & Co., New Orleans, LA

(Lima dealer), on 12-9-1916.

Built as Alabama-Mississippi Lumber Co. #7, Monroe, MS; returned to Lima and held for Woodward-Wight & Co.

Sold to New Deemer Manufacturing Co. #3, Deemer, MS, on 8-27-1917; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL; to Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #3, Morton, MS, on 9-7-1923; to

Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #3, Deemer, MS; to Reynolds Lumber Co. #3, Deemer, MS, on 9-28-1933.

Scrapped 1935.

4              2-6-2                   Baldwin                  42137                  6-1915                     44                    17x24                      128500

Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1478, Birmingham, AL, on 6-28-1923.

Built as Mine La Motte Co. #3, Mine La Motte, MO; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1478.

Sold to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #4, Deemer, MS, on 5-31-1924; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1540, Birmingham, Ala.; to Reynolds-West Lumber Co. #4, Burnside, MS, on 7-1-1925; to Marietta Lumber Co. #4, Burnside, MS, in 1928.

Baldwin class 10-28¼ D 55

2nd 2      2T Heisler          Heisler                    1222                    -1911                       36                    14x12                      72000

Purchased from Lamb-Fish Lumber Co., Charleston, MS

Ordered as: Louisell Lumber Co. #6, Richardson, MS; diverted to: A. G. Little Lumber Co. #1, Richardson, MS; to Enterprise Foundry & Machine Co., Hattiesburg, MS; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1294, Atlanta, GA; to Lamb-Fish Lumber Co., on 5-13-1918.

To Reynolds Lumber Co. #2, on 9-28-1933.

5              3T Shay             Lima                        2828                    5-1916                     36                    3-12x15                   146000

Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1515, Birmingham, AL, on 6-25-1924.

Built as Henderson Land & Lumber Co. #3, Fox, AL; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1515.

To Reynolds Lumber Co. #5, on 9-28-1933.

?              2T Heisler          Heisler                    1262                    -1912                       33                    13x12                      72000

Transferred from Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #2, Morton, MS

Built as Hall & Legan Lumber Co. #2, Morton, MS; to Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #2, on 2-18-1922.

To Reynolds Lumber Co., on 9-28-1933.

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Standard Gauge 60-lb rail Headquarters and mill location: Deemer, MS (Neshoba County) Years of Operation: 1906-1940 Mill Capacity: 50,000 ft/day in 1910 Miles Operated: 15 in 1910 Locomotives Owned: 7	Equipment:	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: The Deemer Manufacturing Company was incorporated in Tioga County, PA. In late 1906 the company acquired 40,000 acres of timber near Philadelphia, MS, and built a sawmill at Deemer, two miles south of Philadelphia, on the Mobile, Jackson & Kansas City Railroad. In 1910 the cutting capacity of the Deemer mill was 75,000 feet per day. On August 27, 1917, Swords R. Lee, A. Albert, Robert Slack and Dr. W. D. Hass, all of Alexandria, La., and Emil Sundbery, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, purchased the sawmill and timber holdings of the Deemer Manufacturing Company, at Deemer, Neshoba County for $1,000,000. The sawmill was a double band type with a cutting capacity of 100,000 feet per day. The New Deemer Manufacturing Company was then formed to operate the property. The Adams-Newell Lumber Company bought the sawmill and timber holdings of the New Deemer Manufacturing Company at Deemer, Neshoba County, on May 31, 1924, for $875,000. Included in the purchase were a 100,000 ft. daily capacity sawmill, 12 miles of logging railroad, 4 locomotives and 50 log cars. Officers of the company were: Frank L. Adams, of Jackson, MS, president; C. H. Howell, of Oklahoma City, vice president, and J. C. Liggett, of Morton, MS, secretary and treasurer. The mill at Deemer cut 65 percent pine and 35 percent hardwoods. The Reynolds Lumber Company, composed of H. D. Reynolds, A. B. Banks and J. C. Liggett, bought the holdings of the Adams-Newell Lumber Company, at Deemer, on September 28, 1933, for $282,000. The Reynolds plant was taken over by the Deemer Lumber Company in March 1940.
New Deemer Mfg. No. 1 at the mill at Deemer with a full load of logs for the mill pond.	Deemer Manufacturing No. 1, a trim Lima mogul (2-6-0) looks to be fairly new in this postcard view.	Deemer Mfg. operated at least one Barnhart log loader, as attested to in this photo.
A log spur in the Pearl River swamps is an excellent illustration of "corduroy" method of supporting crossties with small logs lengthwise underneath to provide additional support in boggy areas.	An excellent overview of the town of Deemer that grew up around the mill. Deemer was at one time larger than nearby Philadelphia. The two-story building in the center was the heart of the town... the company offices and commissary. The depot is seen just beyond it. A short 4-wheel "bobber" caboose can be seen on a NOM&C freight near the depot.
	Shay No. 2 with a load of logs and Barnhart loader No. 1.
Locomotive Roster by Gil Hoffman: 1 2-6-0 Lima 1031 5-1906 36 14x18 59600 Built as Gates Lumber Co. #6, Wilmar, AR; diverted to Deemer Manufacturing Co. Sold to New Deemer Manufacturing Co. #1, Deemer, MS, on 8-27-1917; to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #1, Deemer, MS, on 5-31-1924; to Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #1, Morton, MS; to Simpson County Gravel Co. #1, Saratoga, MS, in 2-1929. 2 2T Shay Lima 1954 6-1907 29½ 3-10x12 74000 Purchased new. Sold to New Deemer Manufacturing Co. #2, Deemer, MS, on 8-27-1917; to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #2, Deemer, MS, on 5-31-1924; to Reynolds Lumber Co. #2, Deemer, MS, on 9-28-1933. 3 2T Shay Lima 2692 10-1913 32 3-11x12 107500 Purchased from Lima Locomotive Works through Woodward-Wight & Co., New Orleans, LA (Lima dealer), on 12-9-1916. Built as Alabama-Mississippi Lumber Co. #7, Monroe, MS; returned to Lima and held for Woodward-Wight & Co. Sold to New Deemer Manufacturing Co. #3, Deemer, MS, on 8-27-1917; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., Birmingham, AL; to Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #3, Morton, MS, on 9-7-1923; to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #3, Deemer, MS; to Reynolds Lumber Co. #3, Deemer, MS, on 9-28-1933. Scrapped 1935. 4 2-6-2 Baldwin 42137 6-1915 44 17x24 128500 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1478, Birmingham, AL, on 6-28-1923. Built as Mine La Motte Co. #3, Mine La Motte, MO; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1478. Sold to Adams-Newell Lumber Co. #4, Deemer, MS, on 5-31-1924; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1540, Birmingham, Ala.; to Reynolds-West Lumber Co. #4, Burnside, MS, on 7-1-1925; to Marietta Lumber Co. #4, Burnside, MS, in 1928. Baldwin class 10-28¼ D 55 2nd 2 2T Heisler Heisler 1222 -1911 36 14x12 72000 Purchased from Lamb-Fish Lumber Co., Charleston, MS Ordered as: Louisell Lumber Co. #6, Richardson, MS; diverted to: A. G. Little Lumber Co. #1, Richardson, MS; to Enterprise Foundry & Machine Co., Hattiesburg, MS; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1294, Atlanta, GA; to Lamb-Fish Lumber Co., on 5-13-1918. To Reynolds Lumber Co. #2, on 9-28-1933. 5 3T Shay Lima 2828 5-1916 36 3-12x15 146000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1515, Birmingham, AL, on 6-25-1924. Built as Henderson Land & Lumber Co. #3, Fox, AL; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1515. To Reynolds Lumber Co. #5, on 9-28-1933. ? 2T Heisler Heisler 1262 -1912 33 13x12 72000 Transferred from Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #2, Morton, MS Built as Hall & Legan Lumber Co. #2, Morton, MS; to Adams-Banks Lumber Co. #2, on 2-18-1922. To Reynolds Lumber Co., on 9-28-1933.