McMillan Turpentine Camp

Site No.: Z-1177
Name: McMillan Turpentine Camp
Date: 1922
Description: Cleared field; no structural remains.
Significance: Was site of McMillan Turpentine Camp; about forty black families lived there in board and batten houses; Johnny Rushing helped build them; also had houses for foreman Arthur and Burl Lawrey; begun circa 1922, pulled down in 1928; there was a black cemetery there also; however it is not visible at this time. Turpentine crews would put cups on pine trees to collect resin. For many years these cups or buckets were stacked at the edge of the road. The turpentine crews worked the Angelina County Lumber Company lands about three years for turpentine, then the lumber company logged the trees. Company also had a commissary store for employees. Lasted about five years.