The following tale is told by David Haenke, following a visit
with Noble Barker: In May 1996 I visited with Noble Barker. He
told me the story of the Big Mill and the pine forest. Noble's
grandfather came to this country in the 1830s, the time of the
first pioneers. The span of Noble Barker's generational memory
through his grandfather goes back to the time of transition from
the Indians to the settlers. The Barker family story is also the
story of the history of the pine forest. In Noble's words: "The
Landers and the Barkers got together in 1917 and formed the
Landers and Barker Lumber Company. In 1922 the company built the
Big Mill. The Big Mill included a sawmill, dry kiln, and planing
mill." The Big Mill was located along Cane Bottom Hollow near
the Bryant. This is the hollow on the south side of the Bryant
where Highway 95 runs today. "The mill was the center of a small
town which included a company store and office, a blacksmith
shop, horse and mule barn, and 27 'sawmill shacks'. Pine logs
cut in the wo