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During Dr. Mable John's "88th" Birthday Party,
Kay King, CEO - Morehouse Economic Development Corp. presented
Dr. Mable John with a picture from the archives of the original Mills.
In the 1920s, the Louisiana Mill and the Bastrop Mill were built by the
Bastrop Pulp & Paper Company. In 1927, International Paper purchased
the two mills. The Bastrop Mill was closed in 1982, and the Louisiana Mill
continued to operate until 2008 and was later demolished in 2011.
Dr. Mable John's dad, Mertis John, worked at the
Bastrop Mill - one of those original Mills...
To see the original Mill, click here...
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Melvin Anderson's Story - Grandma lived at the Mill's Quarters
Melvin's grandmother was named "Maddie Johnson".
Maddie lived at the Mill's Quarters. At that time, it was called
the "Smith Pulp Mill Quarters" a.k.a "Puff" Mill Quarters.
Some believed that "Puff" described the Mill's plume of
smoke, while others believed this was because "Pulp" was
difficult to pronounce. The Quarters were located near the
"Pulp/Puff" Mill. The other Mill down the street was called
the "Plug" Mill.
As a little boy, Melvin remembers swinging on a rope that
hung near the railroad tracks, and multiple pecan trees -
pronounced "pahkaan" during that time. Melvin made whistles
from nearby boxes and whistled while following alongside the trains.
There were about 5 or 6 houses which were actually the Mill's
Quarters where workers lived while working there.
At that time, there was a place called "The Show", which had
"4" cinemas inside. This should not be confused with the
Rose Theatre because the Rose Theatre was not there when
the Mills Quarters were occupied.
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Bishop Charles Bradford's Story - Born at the Mill's Quarters
Bishop Charles Bradford actually lived in one of the Mill's Quarters.
Dr. Mable John's dad worked at the same Mill, and lived within the
the Mill's Quarters.
Bishop Charles' grandma was Leddie (Smith) Bradford, and his father
was Roosevelt "Boolum" Bradford. Roosevelt was a shoemaker. The
Mill's Quarters at that time were called the "Smith Quarters". Bishop Charles
was the LAST of Boolum's kids to be BORN in the Quarters.
When he was young, Bishop Charles remembers walking out of
the yard of the Mill's Quarters by the railroad tracks, and the
"Pulp/Puff" Mill was right there.
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