Note: The following is one of a series of columns looking at the origins and growth of the agriculture industry in Southeast Georgia and Bulloch County.
Part I
The Statesboro News issue of Jan. 16, 1903 revealed that “the Standard Creosote Manufacturing Company had installed their large boilers at the site of their mill.”
“It is located just this side of Shearwood and will be ready within the next 30 days to extract the tar out of the million or more lightwood stumps in that section.”
And the March 27, 1903 Statesboro News revealed a “Mr. Broughton, the President of the Standard Creosote Mfg. was in this city Monday. A plant of this company (was) recently erected at Shearwood.”
So, “They are working creosote and wood alcohol out of the old lightwood stumps and trees in the woods in that section. They have an up-to-date plant, and are doing a good business.”
In fact, Broughton said he might “erect another plant in the near future, and stated that this may be located in Statesboro. Since our town is getting quite a reputation as a manufacturing center” that would be good.
Then, the Statesboro News issue of Dec. 11, 1903 stated that on the previous Friday night, “three men said to represent in the neighborhood of one hundred millions of dollars...slept at the Jaeckel Hotel.”
“They arrived on the S&S Fast Mail at 6:15 from Savannah accompanied by Mr. C.E. Broughton of Shearwood (and) these gentlemen (are) interested in the establishment of the ‘Pine Stump’ or creosote factories.”
What’s more, “They are supposed to be interested in the large plant operated by Mr. Broughton in Shearwood. They left on the 7 o’clock train for Shearwood and made a thorough inspection of their investment there.”
And, “They (were) highly-pleased with the plant (and) they intend putting a large number of new plants in operation (and soon) every old pine stump in our flat woods will glisten like that many diamonds.”
Then, “The party left for Savannah on a special train run over the S&S Rwy. They paid $75 for the train to take them into the union station at Savannah. Money was no object as they desired to catch the Southern train for N.Y.”
It was said that “The train ran so fast that the telegraph poles looked like pickets on a fence (and) no halt was reported as the ‘Limited’ sped through Eldora (so) there is no telling how many female hens were slain.”
The Statesboro News issue of Jan. 19, 1904 announced that “The Standard Creosote Factory at Shearwood have purchased a tract of 2,700 acres of land from Shearwood Lumber Company at that place.”
It revealed “After utilizing all the stumps and other lightwood on the land will ditch it and open it up for farming purposes. This is all low flat lands and will take an immense amount of ditching to drain it.”
Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look each week at the area's past. E-mail Roger at rwasr1953@gmail.com.