Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: GG-13
Corporate Name: Mayfield & Durham
Local Name:
Owner Name: Mayfield & Durham. William Durham and Byron T. Durham. Byron T. Durham. Foote & Moberly.
Location: Foote Switch (Foote's Switch, later known as Snyder's Switch, about four miles south of Longview)
County: Gregg
Years in Operation: 19 years
Start Year: 1875
End Year: 1893
Decades: 1870-1879,1880-1889,1890-1899
Period of Operation: 1875 to 1893
Town: Foote Switch (Foote's Switch, later known as Snyder's Switch,)
Company Town: 2
Peak Town Size: Unknown
Mill Pond:
Type of Mill: Lumber
Sawmill Pine Sawmill Hardwood Sawmill Cypress Sawmill
Planer Planer Only Shingle Paper
Plywood Cotton Grist Unknown
Other
Power Source: Steam
Horse Mule Oxen Water
Water Overshot Water Turbine Diesel Unknown
Pit Steam Steam Circular Steam Band
Gas Electricity Other
Maximum Capacity: 15000: 1893
Capacity Comments: 15,000 feet daily
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Sawmill
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: International & Great Northern
Historicial Development: A sawmill firm of Foote & Moberly had an operation, according to the Gregg County records, at Foote Switch on the trackage of the Texas & Pacific. Byron T. Durham gave a deed of trust to Thomas Hope in 1875 for $1,300 for the sawmill, the steam engine, etc., the mill house having earlier burned down. William Durham was partnered to Byron T. Durham, according to Gregg County records, as they repaired the mill site, located at Foote's Switch (later Snyder's Switch) about four miles south of Longview. Local railroad and lumber entrepreneurs Brad and Eli Barnes along with A. Waldrond provided materials for the construction of the new steam mill. A. Waldrond provided material to Byron T. Durham, who built a steam sawmill at Longview. The Durham & Durham sawmill was probably the genesis of the Mayfield & Durham, which was cutting 15,000 feet daily of lumber at Longview in 1893.
Research Date: MCJ 04-19-96
Prepared By: M Johnson