History of Chicago Mill in Tallulah
From August 14, 1975 Centennial Edition Madison Journal

Chicago Mill and Lumber Company, a Delaware corporation, founded by Herman Paepcke in 1881, with main offices in Chicago, Ill, purchased the sawmill owned by Kurz Bros. Lumber Company in Tallulah, in the latter part of 1927. They also purchased extensive timberlands in Madison and adjoining parishes owned by Hardwood Timber Company, Ayer Timber Company and Singer Manufacturing Company.

At that time, Walter Paepcke, son of Herman, was president of the company. Later he left the mill and was instrumental in founding a ski resort at Sun Valley, Idaho.

In 1928, A. H. Becker from the Helena, Ark. plant was appointed the first manager of the Tallulah Plant. Other employees, G. L. Aitken, J. A. Joyner, E. M. Jones, L. W. Kessler, Harry Anderson, and others were transferred from Helena. There was a large logging operation with a logging camp near Somerset. A railroad hauled logs from that area to Tallulah. Expansion and renovation work was started immediately, with the construction of a power plant, box factory and veneer mill.

Since there were large quantities of Virgin timber available, this made it most suitable for the location of such operations, as well as an adequate supply of labor and two railroads for shipping finished products. Especially valuable was the Figured Red Gum veneer. A large quantity of the lumber produced at that time was exported to England and other foreign countries.

During the early 1930's the depression came and the company was taken over by the First National Bank of Chicago. The work force was much reduced.

R. N. Ware from the Blytheville plant was made manger of the Tallulah Plant in 1932. The Blytheville plant was closed due to lumber supply being exhausted. Also coming from Blytheville were J. D. Halbach, Paul R. Schwartz, S. C. Alexander, Victor Bray, Reginald Cannon, and others.

Box Manufacture was increased and a lumber kiln was installed. M. B. Christian was hired to fight lyctus beetles in lumber and do experimental work in a research laboratory.

Hal Moore, a forester, was employed. Ray Radford was in charge of land sales of cutover land.

An oil well was discovered on Chicago Mill land in Tensas Parish in 1945. Ten other wells were discovered in 1955, opening up Newlight and West Newlight Fields.

In 1955 R. N. Ware was appointed Vice-President and placed in charge of Crude Oil Division, with office in Tallulah. A geologist from Houston was in charge of development. Land sales were discontinued about this time.

J. D. Halbach, assistant manager, was promoted to manager and later J. F. Griswold Jr. of Chicago was made manager. R. N. Ware retired in 1958 and Paul R. Schwartz from Chicago office became Manager of Crude Oil Division, later being made manager of Tallulah Plant as well. Still later H. K. McKinnon took over management of Crude Oil Division.

During World War II the plant operated at full capacity, making plywood, boxes, and lumber for use in defense. So many of the men employed were called by Selective Service that women were hired to work in the box factory, veneer mill and sawmill.

After running at full capacity for several years, the best timber was cut and it was impossible to secure good grade logs for veneer and R. N. Ware, M. B. Christian, and Reginald Cannon worked out and patented a machine and process for making CRAVENEER, a material made of a low grade veneer, with Kraft paper laminated on each side. This was made in various thicknesses and used mainly as box material.

Chicago Mill’s first Craveneer box

A forest management program was initiated by L. C. White, a forester. It was formerly a practice to cut all timber and then sell cut-over land. When the forestry program was started, the larger timber was marked for cutting and the smaller was left to grow, making a perpetual timber supply. Also a number of Madison Parish farmers were encouraged to start tree farms and use selective cutting method on logs they sold to the mill. Several other foresters, E. E. Lewis and others, were added during the 1950's.

Chicago Mill was acquired by a partnership of Jay F. Pritzker of Chicago and Will H. Gonyea of Eugene, Oregon in 1965, the land being sold to Simon Zunnamon. The Main Office was moved from Chicago to Greenville, Miss. and J. B. Wiseman of Memphis, Tenn. was made General Manager.

Robert Rich became manager of the Tallulah Plant and T. A. Atkinson of Los Angeles was in charge of crude oil. In 1970, the box shop and veneer mill were closed down, leaving only the sawmill in operation. Robert Rich transferred to Helena and W. G. Skelton was made manager at Tallulah.

At present, there are less than 100 employees at Tallulah Plant and logging is done by contractors. Much of the timberland has been cleared and is being farmed in soy beans and rice.

At the height of operations, during war years, there were approximately 800 to 1000 employees in Tallulah plant and woods. Some German prison labor from the POW camp in Tallulah was used in the woods and on the lumber yard.

At various times, approximately 40 percent of the working people in Tallulah have worked at Chicago Mill.