Remlig, Texas, Jasper County sawmill ghost town. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

The town of Remlig was one of many set up as a lumbermill by Alexander Gilmer in 1905. The company opened in 1905 and so did the post office. The Upshur County seat of Gilmer had already been named for another Gilmer, so postal authorities nixed the application for one with the same name in Jasper County. But they readily accepted Remlig - a simple reversal. (See Bob Boman's article: Town Names.)

Gilmer, born in Ireland, transmigrated to Texas via Georgia. First making ship's masts from Georgia pines, he ventured into shipbuilding with his brother. He branched into shingle-making and building sawmills, becoming a millionaire lumber magnate in the process. Gilmer died in 1906 and was buried in Orange, where he had married and (with his brother) ran one of his most successful businesses. Gilmer's operation at "Remlig" was vast, with extensive tram roads built to exploit the timber reserves. But with the demise of the forest, the town too, disappeared. The company operation closed in 1926 and so did the post office.

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.