The small community of Bagdad, Florida seems to have always been associated with Florida's lumber industry. This history goes back to Juan de La Rua and his acquisition of land by Spanish decry around Arcadia off Highway 90 and Pond Creek. However, due to manpower issues and other uncontrollable problems his fledgling lumber mill was sold to Joseph Forsyth. But Forsyth also experienced money problems as well. His solution was to join forces in 1830 with Andres P. and his brother Ezekiel Ewing Simpson, two men that had plenty. Thus, was born the Forsyth & Simpson Lumber Company. But as the years went by, the old partners eventually passed away. Forsyth would pass away in 1855 followed by his partner Ezekiel in 1875, thus began the decline of the company. The company was placed on the market and scooped up by Stearns & Culver Lumber Company in 1903. It was about this time throughout the South, that various lumber companies were bringing in small "timber engines" laid on temporary tracks to haul the longs out of the forests. This replaced the expensive and time consuming method of building canals and floating the downed timber to the rivers. Things were prosperous and the company paid decent wages to their employees for the day and time. When one of their men, Robert L. Stevens came down seriously ill at his home in Bagdad, he was given time off to recuperate. But his health continued to decline while the doctors did all they could. Robert finally expired on August 8, 1910 and was laid to rest in the Bagdad Cemetery. Mr. Stevens left his wife Isabelle "Belle" and two sons Frank W. and H. Lamonte Stevens to mourn his passing. To honor his service, the company shut down their entire plant so that the employees could attend his funeral and pay their respects. But alas, even the Stearns & Culver Company did not last long either. In 1912, it again changed management and became the Bagdad Land & Lumber Company. Under this banner, the company supplied numerous jobs that fed many a family during the Great Depression and for years to come. But at long last, the last log was sent through the chutes in April 1939 by sawyer Lee Brown, thus ending yet another era in Santa Rosa history.
One of the small timber engine types used during this period
Note the "timber rails," easily laid and easily pulled up
Lee Brown sends the Bagdad's last log through in April 1939.
Born in 1891, he would pass away in 1968 and was
buried in the Bagdad Cemetery. Marion Eugene
Armstead would follow him therein 1984. It is believed
that Evans passed away in 1966 and was buried in
Serenity Gardens in Milton.
The Bagdad Lumber Mill's "last log" April 1939