| Alpha-Numeric Key: | HR-38 |
| Corporate Name: | Continental Lumber Company |
| Local Name: | |
| Owner Name: | Lynch Davidson, president; J.M. West, vice-president (West Lumber Company). Davidson-Ingram Lumber Company. Benford Lumber Company. |
| Location: | Houston |
| County: | Harris |
| Years in Operation: | 5 years |
| Start Year: | 1905 |
| End Year: | 1909 |
| Decades: | 1900-1909 |
| Period of Operation: | 1905 to 1909 |
| Town: | Houston |
| Company Town: | 0 |
| Peak Town Size: | 44,639 in 1905 |
| Mill Pond: |  |
| Type of Mill: | Lumber and shingles
 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: | |
| Capacity Comments: | Unknown |
| Produced: |
| Rough Lumber |
Planed Lumber |
Crossties |
Timbers |
| Lathe |
Ceiling |
Unknown |
Beading |
| Flooring |
Paper |
Plywood |
Particle Board |
| Treated |
Other |
| |
|
| Equipment: | Sawmill, shingle mill |
| Company Tram: | |
| Associated Railroads: | Many railroads |
| Historicial Development: | Lynch Davidson, after five years as secretary and sales manager of the Emporia Lumber Company, joined with J.M. West in forming the Continental Lumber Company and the West Lumber Company in January 1903. The initial mills of these companies were at Westville, Trinity County; and Stanley, Polk County. They had expanded to Houston by 1905.
Davidson had earlier operated a wholesale lumber company at Houston and had joined with L. Ingram to form a milling company at Houston named the Davidson-Ingram Lumber Company. When Ingram retired in 1909, the company name was changed to that of the Benford Lumber Company, which had sawmills at Benford and Potomac. The Benford Lumber Company officers were Davidson, president; George M. Coale, vice president; and G. M. Seaman, secretary and treasurer. The Continental Lumber and Tie Company, another firm owned by Davidson, acted as the sales agent for the mills. |
| Research Date: | JKG 10-13-93, MCJ 05-09-96 |
| Prepared By: | M. Johnson, J. Gerland |