Aldridge Sawmill
Also known as: Old Aldridge Sawmill and Town Site; 41jp82
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Why it's listed
Aldridge Sawmill is a 270-acre ruin of a lumber mill and company town on the east bank of the Neches River in Angelina National Forest, Jasper County, Texas. Hal Aldridge built the mill in 1903, choosing the spot for river access and nearby long-leaf pine lands. After a fire in August 1911 destroyed wooden buildings, the boiler, engine, fuel storage and dry kiln buildings were rebuilt of hand-poured reinforced concrete, and the machinery was upgraded to band saws. Production peaked in 1913, with about 500 workers and a town of 1,000 to 1,500 people living in roughly 200 company houses. Housing was segregated into five areas. The company sold its interest in 1918. Today the four concrete structures, a crane deck, foundations, a mill pond dam, tram grades and a charcoal kiln ring survive in poor condition, affected by deterioration and vandalism. The site is significant for East Texas logging history and early reinforced concrete construction.
Significance in brief: The site is argued to represent the first great growth cycle of industrial logging in East Texas in the early 20th century (Criterion A). Its hand-poured reinforced concrete mill buildings are cited as an example of early reinforced concrete engineering in East Texas (Criterion C). Surface and subsurface remains also show how the mill and segregated town were laid out.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01000209, listed March 2, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Angelina National Forest., S end of Forest System Rd., Zavalla |
|---|---|
| County | Jasper County |
| Listed | March 2, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000209 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | early 20th century (significant dates 1905-1918) |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Other/early 20th century industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Concrete structures are in poor condition, with deterioration and vandalism; the dry kiln roof has largely collapsed and stabilization was underway. Used for outdoor recreation, with an interpretive hiking trail in progress. |
| Acreage | 270 |
| Coordinates | 31.03912, -94.27792 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01000209.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999594
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.