Peason, Louisiana Explained

Peason
Settlement Type:Community, Ghost town
Pushpin Map:USA Louisiana
Pushpin Label Position:31.4137888, -93.2946134
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Louisiana
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Louisiana
Subdivision Type2:Parish
Subdivision Name2:Sabine Parish
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Coordinates:31.4138°N -93.2946°W[1]

31.4137888, -93.2946134

Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
State:LA
Type:LA
Route:118
Location:Florien - Kisatchie
Length Mi:26.89
Formed:1955

Peason is a small populated community and sawmill ghost town located on Louisiana highway 118 approximately east of Hornbeck, and the sawmill ghost town of Sandel, in Sabine Parish, Louisiana.

The Peavy Wilson mill ran from 1918 to 1929 before being transported to Florida.

History

As the northern lumber began to cut out additional locations were sought. After the railroad came through Louisiana it allowed a way for lumber to be shipped to market. Anderson J. "Jasper" Peavy (A.J.) worked his way up in the lumber industry in Texas becoming president of Peavy-Byrnes Lumber Company, Peavy-Moore Lumber Company, and Peavy-Welsh Lumber Company. In 1916 Peavy received backing, purchased in Ward 1, Sabine Parish, and went into partnership with Riley J. Wilson, forming the Peavy Wilson Lumber Company. A site was selected in 1917 and construction was completed in 1918. The name chosen for the town was Peason that was an acronym of the first and last names of the partners.

Twelve miles of "tap line" track was laid from Peason to just north of Hornbeck at Sandel (south of Ayers and Gandy) connecting to the Kansas City Southern Railroad[2] and named the Christie and Eastern Railroad. The line went through Davis and the turpentine mill of Shutts.[3] Later the tracks were extended east[4] to connect to the Red River and Gulf Line at Kurthwood, Louisiana.[5]

Peavy made Shreveport his headquarters and home until his death.[6]

On January 9, 2022, a strong EF2 tornado impacted the town, damaging about 30 homes, 10 to 15 of which were heavily damaged or destroyed. Six people were injured, including all five people in a mobile home that was destroyed, some critically.[7]

Notes and References

  1. https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:541162 GNIS: Coordinates
  2. https://www.ttarchive.com/Library/Maps/KCS_1906_Official-Guide.htm KCS map
  3. https://www.ttarchive.com/Library/Maps/Christie-Eastern_1920_RCL.htm Texas Transportation Archive: Christie and Eastern Railroad
  4. https://redriverandgulf.net/RRG-History.html Red River and Gulf: Christie and Eastern Railroad extension
  5. http://allthingssabine.com/peavy-wilson-lumber-company-of-peason-louisiana/ All Things Sabine: Peavy Wilson Lumber Company of Peason, Louisiana
  6. http://www.sfasu.edu/heritagecenter/2439.asp Steven F. Austin State University: The Founders of Peason (May 2018)
  7. National Weather Service in Shreveport, Louisiana. NWS Damage Survey for 1/09/22 Tornado Event - Update. Iowa Environmental Mesonet. January 10, 2022. January 10, 2022.