Ship Island Lumber Co.

Standard gauge, 35-lb rail

Headquarters: Sanford, MS

Mill Location: Sanford, MS (Covington County)

Mill Capacity: 50,000 ft/day 

Years of Operation: 1903-1919

Miles Operated: 10 miles in 1917

Locomotives Owned: 5 known

Equipment:

1 locomotive, 7 cars, 1 Russell log loader in 1910 

Click Map for Larger Version

History by Gil Hoffman:

The Ship Island Lumber Company was incorporated at Sanford, Covington County, on January 16, 1903 by Butler McClanahan, J. W. Hinton, J. H. Stevens, Jr., and T. L. O'Donnell with authorized capital stock of $30,000. Butler McClanahan was president and T. L. O'Donnell was secretary-treasurer and general manager. O'Donnell had bought timber around Sanford in 1902 which he transferred to the company on September 16, 1904. The mill at Sanford, on the Gulf & Ship Island, cut 50,000 feet per day of longleaf yellow pine. Specialties were rough and dressed timbers up to 60 feet long, car and railroad material, flooring, finish, ceiling and drop siding. 

Logging operations were moved to near Belpine, in Rankin County, in late 1913 with logs shipped to the mill at Sanford over the Gulf & Ship Island. The mill cut out in late 1919.

Ship Island Lumber Co. office and commissary in 1916. St Louis Lumberman Photo

 

 

Ship Island Lumber Co mill at Sanford in 1916. St Louis Lumberman Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROSTER by Gil Hoffman: 

1or3?          0-4-2T             Davenport             123                      2-1905                                             10x14                     

                                  Purchased new. Cost $2,750.

Sold to Pine Belt Lumber Co., Pine Belt, AL, about 1913; to Berrey-Reeves Lumber Co., Pine Belt, AL, in 2-1917; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1365, Atlanta, GA; to Hope Lumber Co. #2, Hope, AR, in 1919; to Penrod-Jurden Co., Helena, Ark.; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #1687.

 

2                  2-6-0               Porter                     3928                    7-1907                                             13x18                     

                                             Purchased from Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #868, Atlanta, GA, on 10-28-12. 

                                            Cost $3,600 with $2,900 allowed in trade on Shay 1st #9.

Built as Williamsburg Lumber Co. #5, Collins, MS; to Okatoma Saw Mill Co. #5, Collins, MS, in 9-1908; to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #868.

 

1st 9            2T Shay         Lima                                                    c.1889                                             3-10x10                   56000

                                 Purchased secondhand, possibly in 1909.

Traded to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #904, Atlanta, Ga., on 10-28-12 in partial payment on #2; to Valley Lumber Co. #5, Gloster, MS, on 8-11-13.

 

2nd 9          2T Shay         Lima                                                                                                            3-10x12                  

                                 Purchased from Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #884, Atlanta, GA, on 11-11-12. 

                                            Cost $3,350.

Formerly Melton Lumber Co. #3, Micanopy, FL.

Sold to Southern Iron & Equipment Co. #962, Atlanta, Ga.; to Suwannee Pine Co., Trilby, FL, on 11-24-13.

 

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

                                 Purchased from East Union Lumber & Manufacturing Co. #9, Hammond, LA (Hammond & Eastern Ry.)

Sold to George W. Howell & Co. #9, Montrose, MS, in 1919; to Tallahoma Lumber Co., Montrose, MS, in 11-1921; 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 howe6818@bellsouth.net or David S. Price at dsprice46@bellsouth.net