Simpson County Lumber Co. (1922-1924)
Stover Lumber Co. (1924-1925)
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Standard gauge, 45-lb rail Headquarters: Mill Location: Strengthford, MS (Wayne County) Mill Capacity: 50,000 ft/day Years of Operation: 1922-1925 Miles Operated: 10 miles Locomotives Owned: 2 known |
Equipment: 10 log cars |
Click Map for Larger Version |
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History by Gil Hoffman: On December 1, 1922 W. M. Prime, Jr., of Weathersby; R. E. Gulledge and G. W. Gulledge, of Mendenhall bought 2,100 acres of timber land in southwestern Wayne County at a Commissioners' sale. The price was $150,000. These same men then formed a partnership, known as the Simpson County Lumber Company, and built a single circular sawmill with cutting capacity of 50,000 feet per day in Wayne County, about 2½ miles northwest of Strengthford. The mill began sawing about May 1922 and cut longleaf yellow pine, specializing in long, heavy timbers. W. M. Prime, the major partner, was the resident manager. A standard gauge railroad connected the mill with the Gulf, Mobile & Northern at Crotts, Jones County. On June 8, 1923 the mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt. On January 12, 1924 the sawmill plant and about 30,000,000 feet of timber were sold to the Stover Lumber Company, of Mobile, Alabama for $200,000. Officers of the Stover Lumber Company were John C. Haswell, of Dayton, Ohio, president, and Harry Stover, of Mobile, secretary and treasurer. The manager was J. W. Stone. The mill cut out about December 1925 and the Stover Lumber Company was dissolved in August 1931.
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| ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: 1 2T Shay Lima 1965 8-1907 29½ 3-10x12 74000 Purchased from Kola Lumber Co., Kola, MS, about 1922. Built as John H. Keiser Lumber Co. #1, Eau Claire, WI; to Kola Lumber Co., Kola, MS, by 4-1920. To Stover Lumber Co. #1, on 1-12-24. Sold to Wells Hardwood Co. #4, Tuckers Crossing, MS, about 5-1926; to J. B. Hogue & Co. #4, Tuckers Crossing, MS, in 4-1927.
2 2-6-0 Vulcan 2521 2-1916 44 15x24 87000 Purchased from Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1510, Birmingham, AL, on 1-11-24. Built as Helen Lumber Co. #2, Helen, FL; to Ray Lumber Co., Atmore, AL; to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. #1510. To Stover Lumber Co. #2, on 1-12-24. Sold to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #2069, Atlanta, GA; to Bay de Noquet Co., Nahma, MI, in 3-1928. |
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For more information contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net