Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 23, 2020

1. Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill Marker after restoration

Inscription. The Chimney is the only trace of what once was the first major industrial belt on the Gulf Coast, a string of antebellum wood mills and brick factories. The chimney represents the lumber industry of the Florida Panhandle. As the lumber industry prospered in the 1850s, local mills employed 600 people and produced almost 55 million feet of lumber. The bricks in the base of the chimney bear the mark of “J. Gonzalez”, showing that they were produced at the local brick plant of James Gonzalez. The chimney was part of the steam power plant for the Hyers-Knowles Mill. In March 1862, General Braxton Bragg was evacuating the Confederate forces holding Pensacola when Confederate Secretary of War Judah P. Benjamin gave the order to "Destroy all machinery private and public, which could be useful to the enemy; especially disable the sawmills in and around the Bay." The machinery from the mills was loaded onto barges which were moved into Escambia Bay. On March 10th a thunderstorm and large waves sank the barges. That same night the Hyer-Knowles Mill was burned, and all that is left is the chimney.

Erected 1999 by the

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City of Pensacola & the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-412.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1862.

Location. 30° 28.831′ N, 87° 9.754′ W. Marker is in Pensacola, Florida, in Escambia County. It is at the intersection of Scenic Highway (U.S. 90) and Langley Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Scenic Highway. Located in Chimney Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pensacola FL 32504, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker,

Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, March 23, 2020

2. Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill Marker

measured as the crow flies: Gaberonne (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lavallet (approx. 0.7 miles away); Dedicated to Julian Ole Olsen, Sr. (approx. 3.7 miles away); Battle and Massacre at Bayou Texar (approx. 3.8 miles away); Votes for Women (approx. 4 miles away); Fairnie Hill (approx. 4.1 miles away); Spencer Bibbs (approx. 4.2 miles away); Katharine A. Goldsmith R.N. (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola.

Marker in 2014 before restoration in 2020. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 10, 2014

3. Marker in 2014 before restoration in 2020.

Historic Places Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, March 10, 2014

4. Historic Places Marker

The Historic Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill
“Old Chimney”
circa 1850
This property has been listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of
Interior on
May 24, 2012

In memory of
Christopher Wallace
1953-2013

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,202 times since then and 104 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 27, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on March 12, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.