| Alpha-Numeric Key: | VZ-2 |
| Corporate Name: | Ford |
| Local Name: | Red Mill |
| Owner Name: | Howell E. Ford. Riley Tall. B. F. McCarty. Mc. D. Moore |
| Location: | Three miles southeast of Canton on Mill Creek on the 320-acre James Douhit Survey |
| County: | Van Zandt |
| Years in Operation: | 17 years |
| Start Year: | 1872 |
| End Year: | 1888 |
| Decades: | 1870-1879,1880-1889 |
| Period of Operation: | 1872 to 1888 |
| Town: | Three miles southeast of Canton on Mill Creek |
| Company Town: | 1 |
| Peak Town Size: | Unknown |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Lumber, cotton, furniture, cornmeal
 Sawmill |
 Pine Sawmill |
Hardwood Sawmill |
Cypress Sawmill |
| Planer |
Planer Only |
Shingle |
Paper |
| Plywood |
Cotton |
Grist |
Unknown |
| Other |
|
|
|
|
| Power Source: | Brass turbine water-wheel
| Horse |
Mule |
Oxen |
Water |
| Water Overshot |
Water Turbine |
Diesel |
Unknown |
| Pit |
Steam |
Steam Circular |
Steam Band |
| Gas |
Electricity |
Other |
|
|
| Maximum Capacity: | |
| Capacity Comments: | Unknown |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | Sawmill, planing mill, furniture factory, cotton gin |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Unknown |
| Historicial Development: | According to W. S. Mills, Mc. D. Moore created an industrial community in 1872 three and a miles southeast of Canton. Within a red-painted, two-story building known as the “Red Mill,” Moore brought sawmill and grist mill machinery, a planer, a cotton gin, and other remanufacturing tools for making furniture. Located on Mill Creek on the 320-acre James Douhit Survey, power was provided to the small brass turbine water-wheel by means of a dam about a half mile up the Creek.
Ownership changed hands several times (Moore to McCarty to Tall to Ford) before Howell E. Ford dismantled the sawmill in 1888 and moved the furniture factory to Canton. |
| Research Date: | MCJ 04-01-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson |