Wier Longleaf Lumber Company
Encyclopedia
The Wier Longleaf Lumber Company was a lumber and milling operation established by Robert W. Wier in East Texas that ran from 1917 until 1944. During that period, the company clearcut more than 86,000 acres (350 km²) of virgin pine forest in Newton
, Jasper and Sabine counties. Because the city fathers of nearby Burkeville did not appreciate the rough workers Wier's company brought in, Wier established two new towns, Wiergate and Bon Wier, four miles away to house the company's employees. In its heyday, the mill could process approximately 200,000 feet of longleaf yellow pine
every 10 hours. Wier also established a railroad to connect the mill and town to Newton. Towards the end of the Second World War, Wier sold his operation and closed down the mill, leading to the decline of Wiergate and Bon Wier.
Although Wier Longleaf Lumber Company provided desperately needed jobs for many poor in this area of the rural South during the Great Depression, this came at the expense of environmental damage and the diminishment of ecological diversity. Whereas before the region was home to southern magnolia
, black cherry
, and white ash
trees, the company reseeded the area with faster-growing loblolly pines
. Because by an act of the State of Texas much of this area is now legally protected, the region has begun to redevelop its prior biodiversity.
Newton County, Texas
Newton County is the easternmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. In of 2000, its population was 15,072. Its county seat is Newton. Newton county is named for John Newton, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War...
, Jasper and Sabine counties. Because the city fathers of nearby Burkeville did not appreciate the rough workers Wier's company brought in, Wier established two new towns, Wiergate and Bon Wier, four miles away to house the company's employees. In its heyday, the mill could process approximately 200,000 feet of longleaf yellow pine
Yellow pine
Yellow pine may refer to the following:*Certain pines in the subgenus Pinus subgenus Pinus:**In American forestry, a term for several closely related species of pine with yellow tinted wood, including the Southern Yellow Pines , and the non-Southern yellow pines and several others...
every 10 hours. Wier also established a railroad to connect the mill and town to Newton. Towards the end of the Second World War, Wier sold his operation and closed down the mill, leading to the decline of Wiergate and Bon Wier.
Although Wier Longleaf Lumber Company provided desperately needed jobs for many poor in this area of the rural South during the Great Depression, this came at the expense of environmental damage and the diminishment of ecological diversity. Whereas before the region was home to southern magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
, black cherry
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina, commonly called black cherry, wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a woody plant species belonging to the genus Prunus...
, and white ash
White Ash
For another species referred to as white ash, see Eucalyptus fraxinoides.Fraxinus americana is a species of Fraxinus native to eastern North America found in mesophytic hardwood forests from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, south to northern Florida, and southwest to eastern...
trees, the company reseeded the area with faster-growing loblolly pines
Loblolly Pine
Pinus taeda is one of several pines native to the Southeastern United States, from central Texas east to Florida, and north to Delaware. It is particularly dominant in the eastern half of North Carolina, where there are huge expanses consisting solely of Loblolly Pine trees...
. Because by an act of the State of Texas much of this area is now legally protected, the region has begun to redevelop its prior biodiversity.