Enon Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, 30 & 35-lb rail Headquarters: Hattiesburg Mill Location: Ralston, MS (Forrest County) Mill Capacity: 40,000 ft/day  Years of Operation: 1900-1909 Miles Operated: 5 miles Locomotives Owned: 2	Equipment:	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: The Enon Lumber Company began as a co-partnership composed of the Draughn brothers, Robert B., Andrew D. and Volney W. In January 1899, the brothers began purchasing sawmill machinery for a new mill to be built on the Gulf & Ship Island at Enon (also known as Ralston), about six miles south of Hattiesburg. The first timber purchase was in December 1899, consisting of a section of school land about four miles southwest of Ralston. On August 6, 1900, the Enon Lumber Company was incorporated at Enon by the members of the partnership with authorized capital stock of $25,000. Officers of the company were: V. W. Draughn, president; R. B. Draughn, vice president, and A. D. Draughn, secretary and treasurer. By September 1900, the sawmill was in operation. It had a cutting capacity of 40,000 feet per day and included a dry kiln. The product was longleaf yellow pine lumber. A logging railroad to log the mill was built about February 1901. The known timber holdings of the company during its existence amounted to around 3,000 acres, extending west of Ralston for about six miles. The last timber purchase, 240 acres, was made in July 1908. The mill probably cut out in early 1909. For a detailed history of this operation see: Steam Whistles in the Piney Woods Volume 2, by Gilbert H. Hoffman
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:        Road No.   Type   Builder   C.N.   Date   Cyls.   Dri. Dia.   Engine Wt.   Previous Ownership   Disposition   ?   0-4-2T   Baldwin   8726   8/1887   10x14   35   30000   East Lake R.R. #3, Birmingham, AL (dummy type) Birmingham Railway & Electric Co., Birmingham, AL, in 9/1890. Haskins Williams & Co., Birmingham, AL (dealer) Parker & Wilder #135, Epps, MS, on 12/29/1898. Enon Lumber Co., on 2/11/1901. Baldwin class 6-14_ C 37   Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co., on 10/18/1902, in trade on 22-ton Porter. Augusta Tramway & Transfer Co. #3, Augusta, AR, in 1903. Augusta R.R. #3, Augusta, AR, on 12/20/1917.   ?   0-4-2T   Porter   861   10/1887   12x18   40   44000   Ensley Ry. #2, Birmingham, AL Birmingham Railway & Electric Co., Birmingham, AL, in 5/1890. Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. Enon Lumber Co., on 10/18/1902.   Enterprise Foundry & Machine Co., Hattiesburg, MS Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1316 Board of Port Commission, New Orleans, LA, on 5/20/1919.

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