J. P. Griffin Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, 40-lb rail Headquarters: Avera, MS Mill Location: Avera, MS (Greene County) Mill Capacity: 40,000 ft/day Years of Operation: 1917-1920 Miles Operated: 7 miles in 1924 Locomotives Owned: 2	Equipment:	Click Map for Larger Version
History by Gil Hoffman: On September 1, 1917, James Perry Griffin, Grover C. Todd and Clarence L. Willis purchased 2,713 acres of timber near Avera, Greene County, from John W. Blodgett, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. In November 1917, Joe M. Griffin, of Blodgett, MS, bought the sawmill plant of the Bellamy Lumber Company, at Varnado, LA, and moved it to Avera, MS, on the new Blodgett branch of the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad. This mill was brought in to manufacture the Blodgett timber bought by Joe Griffin and associates. The mill had a cutting capacity of 40,000 feet per day.  The J. P. Griffin Lumber Company, which operated this mill, was incorporated at Avera on November 24, 1917, by J. P. Griffin, G. C. Todd and C. L. Willis, all of Blodgett, MS, with authorized capital stock of $40,000. J. P. Griffin was president of the company. He was born 6 July 1877. On June 1, 1919, an additional block of Blodgett timber, containing 3,300 acres, was bought for the Avera mill.  On September 1, 1920, the company sold its holdings to the Green Lumber Company, of Laurel, MS.
ROSTER by Gil Hoffman:      Road No.   Type   Builder   C.N.   Date   Cyls.   Dri. Dia.   Engine Wt.   Previous Ownership   Disposition   ?   31-2 Heisler   Heisler   1136   12/1907                        12½x12   33   62000   Smith-McGowin Mill Co. #6, Magazine, AL Haney Lumber Co., Star, MS, in 1913. Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. J. M. Hemphill Lumber Co., Rhodes, MS, on 12/15/1916. J. M. Griffin, Rhodes, MS, on 11/24/1917. J. P. Griffin Lumber Co., on ?   Green Lumber Co. #3,Avera, MS, on 9/1/1920. Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1887 Hamburg Lumber Co., Hamburg, AR, on 9/29/1923.   1   42-2 Shay   Lima   3081   5/1920   3-10x12   29½   84000   New.   Green Lumber Co. 1st #1, Avera, MS, on 9/1/1920. Tallahoma Lumber Co. #1, Montrose, MS, ca. 11/1924. Eastman, Gardiner & Co. #74, Laurel, MS, on 11/18/1926. Eastman-Gardiner Hardwood Co. #1, Sandersville, MS, ca. 4/1927 (leased). Pascagoula Hardwood Co. #1, Laurel, MS. The Mengel Co. #1, Laurel, MS, on 11/29/1935. Scrapped 1947.

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