A.O. Saw Mill, Texas Lake, c. 1882
BCA Call Number: I-30857
BCA Catalogue Number: ON5-23
BCA Accession Number: 198401-006
Photo in Onderdonk Album, #5, 23.
Photo also appears in Notman Album (MP 600 - 11)

The mill was in operation by the spring of 1882. An item in The Inland Sentinel (May 11, 1882) describes the scene:

At Texas Lake, 4 miles below Emory, we found a comfortable house, stables, sheds, etc., erected, and a force of men busy getting out saw logs for the Emory Saw Mill about to be removed to the edge of the Lake, where already are numerous logs cut and in the water ready for use. This small lake is nearly surrounded by fine timber, and we learn Mr. Thos. W. Gray has secured a sufficiency for his mill. Cut close to the water the logs are easily dumped in and floated across to where wanted. In a short time Texas Lake will be a place of business and resort. Already activity prevails, and a pleasant drive brings the pleasure seeker to the beautiful lake, where a few canoes would be a good investment.

A year later, the Sentinel was still reporting much activity at Texas Lake. On April 5, 1883, the paper reported that "when the 'big slide' at the Big Tunnel is out of the way bridge timber will be going up in large quantities from Texas Lake, a few miles from Emory, where the steam saw mill is now busy day and night, and many bridge men at work preparing."