Early 1930s... Electricity, Paved Roads, a Gravel Pit and a New Sawmill

From Sicily Island:  A Partial History, compiled by Mickie Smith:

Electricity

In 1931, the Ouachita Ice and Utilities of Jonesville brought electricity to Sicily Island.  Many people had their homes wired for this modern convenience, with one drop cord in the center of each room.

It was wonderful not to have coal oil lamps to fill and clean anymore, and of course, the one light bulb lit the room so much brighter than the lamp.  It was still some years before the residents could afford electric refrigerators, electric pumps and install indoor plumbing. 

Paving of Highway 15

It was during the mid-1930s that Highway 15 was paved.  Transportation in the area went from waterways to railroads to highways.

Gravel Pits 

In 1935, Mr. W. L. Morgan, who owned the 101 Ranch, leased land in the hills to begin operation of a gravel pit.  After one year, time mainly spent in leasing the land and getting the operation set up, he sold it to Gifford Hill Sand and Gravel Company.  This company had two or three houses built, and moved several railroad boxcars to an area in the hills, not far from Norris Springs.  These houses and boxcars were used to house their personnel.  They also employed some local residents, having a total workforce of about twenty-five men.  

Gravel was hauled in five yard trucks, which was the largest gravel truck at that time.  They also built a rail spur line from the pit to the railroad, coming out about where the ball park is now located off Highway 15.  On this line, they used their own little engine to bring boxcars of gravel out to be shipped on the railroad.  This company closed their operation here in 1942.  However, this did not mean the end of the gravel business for the area, as several companies have been in operation constantly since then.

Sawmills

American Sawmill circa 1920

There had been several small sawmills in the area.  Some of the owners of these mills were:  Mr. Glover, Mr. Horace Peniston, Mr. Audley Bird and Mr. Slade.

In 1935, Mr. R. G. Cruse bought eleven acres of land from Mr. John Peniston for a sawmill.  This acreage was across from the First Baptist Church and included the area where the Shell Bulk Plant is now located.

The depression was still being felt.  Not having a large capital outlay, since his mill had burned in Kelly, Louisiana, Mr. Cruse started with a small operation and increased the size and output as the lumber orders increased.

Circular Sawmill

This was a circular sawmill, and in later years, employed about twenty-five men. Mr. Rastus Thurman was the sawyer for this mill.  At the end of the work day, Mr. Thurman took the saws home to sharpen at night so he would have a sharp saw for the next day's work.

Mr. Cruse built a commissary, managed by Mrs. Cruse, to accommodate his employees.  Mrs. Cruse said she didn't keep the store open all day, but especially during noon, when the men would come over and get their lunch food.  In the afternoon she opened it again.  Mrs. Cruse laughingly said, "The salt meat and cheese were set out on a wooden block and never refrigerated.  Oh my!  How we did things in those days."