| Alpha-Numeric Key: | TY-23 |
| Corporate Name: | Nebraska Lumber Company |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | Nebraska Lumber Company. P. A. “Pete” Doucette, William McCready, J. A. Hargis, and Mrs. A. L. Doucette |
| Location: | Doucette (Carroll) |
| County: | Tyler |
| Years in Operation: | 5 years |
| Start Year: | 1893 |
| End Year: | 1897 |
| Decades: | 1890-1899 |
| Period of Operation: | About 1893 to October 1897 |
| Town: | Doucette (Carroll) |
| 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: | 25000: 1893 |
| Capacity Comments: | 25,000 board feet in 1893 to perhaps 40,000 by 1897 |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | At least a saw mill proper, with a single circular, and a planing mill by 1897 |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Texas & New Orleans company tram road |
| Historicial Development: | Pete Doucette, a Canadian, and William McCready built the Nebraska Lumber Company sawmill at Doucette sometime before April 1893, and the Nebraska Lumber Company was incorporated on June 12 that year. An unofficial manuscript asserts that Doucette bought Alva Carroll's sawmill. The Galveston Daily News reported in 1897 that the Doucette plant was “'the only mill in Texas that can boast of a lady secretary and treasurer, Mrs. A.L. Doucette filling that position.”
The town was originally called Carroll, but was changed to Doucette when the post office was established later the same year. The company met many difficulties at Doucette, and the business venture was short-lived. The town had no mill pond, and scarcity of water resulted in the mill closing down on at least one occasion. Logging problems also existed, due to the hilly nature of the area. By September 1897, however, prospects began to improve. The mill's capacity was increased, waterworks were established, getting water from nearby springs, and a new locomotive was making the logging proposition manageable. But just when tram roads were extended into “new pineries” disaster struck. The mill was almost completely destroyed by fire in October 1897, consuming the mill, planer, and most of the sawed lumber. The company had no insurance coverage, and consequently failed. The corporation was dissolved on May 20, 1898. Doucette ended his partnership with McCready at Doucette, and soon established another milling business at Woodville with L.J. Chapman in 1899. |
| Research Date: | JKG 7-30-93, MCJ 02-21-96 |
| Prepared By: | J. Gerland, M. Johnson |