George W. Howell & Co.

Montrose Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, 20 & 30-lb rail

Headquarters

Mill Location: , MS ( County)

Mill Capacity: 0,000 ft/day 

Years of Operation: 1919-1921

Miles Operated: 10 miles

Locomotives Owned: 3 known

Other Equipment:

13 log cars

 

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

On July 30, 1919 George W. Howell, of St. Louis, Missouri purchased the sawmill in Montrose, logging railroad and equipment and timber rights in Jasper County of the Tallahatta Lumber Company. The total price paid was around $78,000. To operate this mill the Montrose Lumber Company was incorporated at Montrose, Jasper County, on September 13, 1919 by George W. and Frank K. Howell, of St. Louis, Missouri; A. J. Dempsey and A. H. Tardy, of

Bay Springs, Jasper County, and George W. Davis, of Montrose, Jasper County, with authorized capital stock of $50,000. The Montrose Lumber Company did not own any property. A. J. Dempsey was the manager. Howell spent an additional $35,000 in repairs and improvements, and in the process became financially overextended.

 The Union Station Trust Company, of St. Louis, holder of a mortgage on the Montrose mill property, brought suit against Howell & Company in Chancery Court in Jasper County, which resulted in a receiver being appointed on November 25, 1920. Other suits followed regarding Howell's other mill properties in Jackson, Miss., and elsewhere in Jasper County. On January 24, 1921 the court ordered the assets of Howell & Company sold. On April 6, 1922 the the Montrose mill property was sold to the Union Station Trust Company, and resold by them on April 17, 1922 to the Tallahoma Lumber Company for $97,832.05. The Tallahoma Lumber Company actually began operating the property in November 1921.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: 

1                  Class B                 Climax                                                                         66000

                                  Purchased secondhand, probably from Tallahatta Lumber Co., Montrose, MS, on 7-30-19.

For sale 7-1920.

Sold to Tallahoma Lumber Co., Montrose, MS, on 4-17-22.

 

4                  2T Shay           Lima                    183                    8-1887                     26                    3-8x8                       34000

                                 Purchased secondhand, probably from Tallahatta Lumber Co., Montrose, MS, on 7-30-19.

Built for Gregory & Coe Lumber Co., Stanton, AL (36-inch gauge); to Kingston Lumber Co., Laurel, MS, in 1897; to Laurel Machine & Foundry Co., Laurel, MS.

Sold to Tallahoma Lumber Co., Montrose, MS, on 4-17-22; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1942, Atlanta, GA; to Green Lumber Co., Avera, MS, on 7-12-24; to Pascagoula Hardwood Co., Laurel, MS.

 

9                  2T Shay           Lima                    943                    10-1904            28                    3-10x10          66000

                                 Purchased from Ship Island Lumber Co. #9, Sanford, MS, in 1919.

Built as East Union Lumber & Manufacturing Co. #9, Hammond, LA; to Ship Island Lumber Co. #9, Sanford, MS.

Sold to Tallahoma Lumber Co., Montrose, MS, on 4-17-22; to Jones County Hardwood Co., Tuckers Crossing MS; to Wells Hardwood Co., Tuckers Crossing, MS, in 5-1926; to Stoddard & Cletts Equipment Co., Mobile, AL, in 6-1926.

 

 

 

 

 

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For more information contact Tony Howe at tonyhowe76@yahoo.com or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net