Established in 1918 by Mr. Peavey and Mr. Wilson, Peason sawmill would later lead to development of the town of Peason. The two men had both the skills in logging, lumbering, and mill management. The sawmill ran from 1918 until it was abandoned and relocated to Florida.

What is the story of Peason?

In the 1890s, the railroads from East Texas had reached the region leading to the lumbering industries emergence. Two men, Mr. Peavey and Mr. Wilson who had vast experience in logging, lumbering, and mill management came to Sabine parish in Louisiana to set up a sawmill. They named the mill Peason having taken the first and the last three letters from Peavey and Wilson respectively.  Within no time, a small town was established around the mill. The town had various town amenities including a high school named after it Peason high school. Running water, electricity, hotel, and drug and retail stores were also available in the town. More than 1900 people worked in the sawmill. The availability of the railroads offered easier transportation of passengers and logs into the mill.  This was the mode of transport in the town. During this time, the Peason mill was the largest lumbering mill that produced pine tree products. Million pine board feet were produced monthly. In the inaccessible regions of the forest, ox, mule, and horses were used. Mr. Peavey and Mr. Wilson Company later changed their mill's location to Florida. The result of this relocation was due to the economic depression that reduced profit at the mill. Residents who were majorly workers at the mill too relocated to neighboring towns to look for work. 

The Peason today

Peason mill was abandoned after the owners of the company decided to relocate their business to Florida. Everything else was left abandoned in the town after the people deserted the place. The buildings at the townsite including the mill have been destroyed leaving only ruins and concrete ruins and memories of a once existed town. Peason townsite and all the structures in its property were declared a historic site in 2007. The Peason sawmill at the town was declared a memorial park by the Peason Historical Foundation. The renovation was done to the mill and new structures like photo booths and historic markers were created. The place is now open to the general public for visit. This helps in commemorating the great town that once existed on the site. There are no major life-threatening hazards as it is perfectly safe to visit the site. There are no ghosts that roam the town as many initially claimed.