Research: Sawmill Database

Alpha-Numeric Key: NA-39
Corporate Name: Adam Caroway Mill
Local Name: Appleby
Owner Name: Adam Caroway [Carraway] [Caraway] Carroway]. Coates, Coates, Russell. J. H. Summers, J. W. Arthur. Arch Caraway of Caraway Lumber Company. Southern Mills Company. [Carraway] [Caroway] [Carroway]
Location: Appleby: intersection of Southern Pacific tracks and 971
County: Nacogdoches
Years in Operation: 3 years
Start Year: 1906
End Year: 1908
Decades: 1900-1909
Period of Operation: 1906 to 1908
Town: Appleby
Company Town: 1
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: 40000: 1906
Capacity Comments: 40,000 feet daily
Produced:
Rough Lumber Planed Lumber Crossties Timbers
Lathe Ceiling Unknown Beading
Flooring Paper Plywood Particle Board
Treated Other
Equipment: Sawmill and proposed planer
Company Tram:
Associated Railroads: Houston East and West Texas (later Southern Pacific)
Historicial Development: The Caraway sawmill was moved from nearby Sterne to Appleby by 1905 or 1906. The American Lumberman reported on 17 March 1906 that the Caraway mill near Nacogdoches had burned with an uninsured loss $2,500. Furthermore, the situation was suspicious, for the mill had been “sold the afternoon of the fire to J. F. Summers and J. W. Arthur, the new proprietors intending to start up the plant the next day. It is generally believed that the fire was of incendiary origin and the matter is receiving the attention of the officers.” The mill remained in the hands of Caraway, and by September 1906 was reported to be cutting 40,000 feet daily at Appleby. It was not listed in the Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association, January 1907. The county deed records reveal that Caroway was buying land on the John Arriola grant, about six miles northeast of Nacogdoches near Appleby, from 1906 to 1908. On October 25, 1907, Adam Carraway sold a steam sawmill plant to W. H. Coats. Adam Carroway, according to county records, sold a sawmill for $500 to W. H. Coates, C. A. Coates, and A. D. Russell. Equipment included the sawmill, a boiler, carriage, saw husk, saws, belts, and piping.
Research Date: LAT 08-08-93, JKG 12-15-93, MCJ 02-10-96
Prepared By: L. Turner, J. Gerland, M. Johnson