U.S. Forest Service in Texas

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, picture this corner of East Texas, right in the heart of the Piney Woods. You'd never know it to look at it today, but back in 1933, what you had here was cutover forests and worked-out farms.

The land had been used up, left behind, and by most accounts it wasn't much to look at. That same year, though, the Texas Legislature authorized the establishment of National Forests in this state, and that decision was about to change things in a serious way. Now, we're talking about four National Forests.

Angelina. Davy Crockett. Sabine.

Sam Houston. Four forests, together covering over six hundred and fifty-eight thousand acres. That is not a small patch of shade.

Under management, net growth in those forests exceeds one hundred and seventy-five million board feet of timber, with a value of over seven million dollars yearly. And it isn't all timber. These forests offer extensive recreation areas too, places where people can come out and breathe the kind of air that reminds you East Texas still has some room to spare.

The U.S. Forest Service has kept offices right there in Lufkin since 1947, the steady hand behind all of it. Cutover land in 1933.

Over six hundred and fifty-eight thousand acres of working, living forest after that. The Piney Woods, it turns out, had a lot more story left to tell.

What the marker says

This area--heart of the Piney Woods and the East Texas forest industry--was, in 1933, cutover forests and worked-out farms. That year the Texas Legislature authorized the establishment of National Forests in this state. Today Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine and Sam Houston forests (the 4 National Forests in Texas) include over 658,000 acres. Under management, net growth exceeds 175,000,000 board feet with a value of over $7,000,000 yearly. In addition, forests offer extensive recreation areas. U.S. Forest Service offices have been in Lufkin since 1947. (1968)