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Meadow River Lumber Company

April 14, 2024

The Meadow River Lumber Company, which operated in Rainelle, West Virginia from 1906 to 1975, was the largest hardwood sawmill in the world. It had three 9 feet (2.7 m) bandsaws under one roof. In 1928, during peak production, its 500 employees produced 31 million board feet (73 thousand cubic meters) of lumber, cutting 3,000 acres (12 km2) of virgin timber a year.

The mill as it appeared in 1917.

History edit

In 1903, the brothers Thomas and John Raine of Ironton, Ohio and later Empire, Pennsylvania joined a lumber firm operating near Evenwood in Randolph County, West Virginia. Later, in 1906, they began purchasing 100,000 acres (400 km2) of land, containing one of the last large stands of virgin hardwood in the United States, mostly on the Meadow River drainage, in western Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Being 20 miles (32 km) to the nearest railroad mainline, they first formed the Sewell Valley Railroad Company to construct a spur line, which eventually evolved into the Meadow River Railroad. This spur was initially used to haul building materials into the wilderness area, and eventually to haul their products out to market. Mill construction began in 1909, and the first board was sawed in September, 1910. Ultimately the mill contained three 9-foot (2.7 m) bandsaws under one roof, making it the largest hardwood sawmill.

The plant and railroad operated several Shay locomotives, one of which was acquired by the Cass Scenic Railroad in 1964, and has since fallen into disrepair.

The plant included a planing mill with the capacity of turning out a million feet (2,360,000 cubic meters) of flooring, ceiling, siding and trim pieces a year. Six large kilns dried lumber for use in the planing mill.

3 miles (4.8 km) of lumber piles, some 40 feet (12 m) high, were stacked on the ten, 1,300 feet (400 m) long lumber docks.

In 1913,the firm created the nearby town of Rainelle. Company-owned houses there were plastered and papered inside, painted white outside, and designed for sanitation, with modern plumbing and electricity. Each had a yard and a garden space surrounding it.

The original mill building was destroyed by fire in 1924. The employees were set to work building a new one, which was operational by March of the following year.

Meadow River lumber began the process called clearcutting in 1939.

Major products included flooring, hardwood shoe heels, furniture, and later moldings and trim. By the time the mill ceased operation, it was the world's largest producer of women's hardwood shoe heels and flooring. It was also the last of the Eastern United States' large independent wood producers.[1]

The business was sold to Georgia-Pacific Corporation in 1970, and the mill was subsequently torn down in 1975.[2][3]

References edit

  1. ^ . Blue Ridge Country. 2007-07-05. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2007-08-04.
  2. ^ . Greenbrier County Convention and Visitor's Bureau. January–February 2005. Archived from the original on October 28, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  3. ^ . U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. 2002-02-14. Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-04.

External links edit

  • Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. WV-60, "Meadow River Lumber Company, Highway 60, Rainelle, Greenbrier County, WV", 56 photos, 7 measured drawings, 28 data pages, 5 photo caption pages
  • Shay Engine #7, now owned by the Cass Scenic Railroad

April 14, 2024
meadow, river, lumber, company, which, operated, rainelle, west, virginia, from, 1906, 1975, largest, hardwood, sawmill, world, three, feet, bandsaws, under, roof, 1928, during, peak, production, employees, produced, million, board, feet, thousand, cubic, mete. The Meadow River Lumber Company which operated in Rainelle West Virginia from 1906 to 1975 was the largest hardwood sawmill in the world It had three 9 feet 2 7 m bandsaws under one roof In 1928 during peak production its 500 employees produced 31 million board feet 73 thousand cubic meters of lumber cutting 3 000 acres 12 km2 of virgin timber a year The mill as it appeared in 1917 History editIn 1903 the brothers Thomas and John Raine of Ironton Ohio and later Empire Pennsylvania joined a lumber firm operating near Evenwood in Randolph County West Virginia Later in 1906 they began purchasing 100 000 acres 400 km2 of land containing one of the last large stands of virgin hardwood in the United States mostly on the Meadow River drainage in western Greenbrier County West Virginia Being 20 miles 32 km to the nearest railroad mainline they first formed the Sewell Valley Railroad Company to construct a spur line which eventually evolved into the Meadow River Railroad This spur was initially used to haul building materials into the wilderness area and eventually to haul their products out to market Mill construction began in 1909 and the first board was sawed in September 1910 Ultimately the mill contained three 9 foot 2 7 m bandsaws under one roof making it the largest hardwood sawmill The plant and railroad operated several Shay locomotives one of which was acquired by the Cass Scenic Railroad in 1964 and has since fallen into disrepair The plant included a planing mill with the capacity of turning out a million feet 2 360 000 cubic meters of flooring ceiling siding and trim pieces a year Six large kilns dried lumber for use in the planing mill 3 miles 4 8 km of lumber piles some 40 feet 12 m high were stacked on the ten 1 300 feet 400 m long lumber docks In 1913 the firm created the nearby town of Rainelle Company owned houses there were plastered and papered inside painted white outside and designed for sanitation with modern plumbing and electricity Each had a yard and a garden space surrounding it The original mill building was destroyed by fire in 1924 The employees were set to work building a new one which was operational by March of the following year Meadow River lumber began the process called clearcutting in 1939 Major products included flooring hardwood shoe heels furniture and later moldings and trim By the time the mill ceased operation it was the world s largest producer of women s hardwood shoe heels and flooring It was also the last of the Eastern United States large independent wood producers 1 The business was sold to Georgia Pacific Corporation in 1970 and the mill was subsequently torn down in 1975 2 3 References edit Meadow River Lumber Company Blue Ridge Country 2007 07 05 Archived from the original on 2010 01 14 Retrieved 2007 08 04 Meadow River Lumber Company Exhibit Greenbrier County Convention and Visitor s Bureau January February 2005 Archived from the original on October 28 2006 Retrieved 2007 08 01 Steamtown Special History Study U S Department of the Interior National Park Service 2002 02 14 Archived from the original on 17 August 2007 Retrieved 2007 08 04 External links editHistoric American Engineering Record HAER No WV 60 Meadow River Lumber Company Highway 60 Rainelle Greenbrier County WV 56 photos 7 measured drawings 28 data pages 5 photo caption pages Shay Engine 7 now owned by the Cass Scenic Railroad Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meadow River Lumber Company amp oldid 1025468998, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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