Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company

he Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company operated a large sawmill and lumber operation in the panhandle of Florida, at Century. Founded in 1900 in Century, Florida, the company played a vital role in the development of the town and the broader Northwest Florida region. It was one of the largest and most advanced lumber operations in the South during the early 20th century, known for its extensive timber resources and modern milling techniques. The company built not only a sawmill but also housing, schools, and churches for its workers, creating a thriving company town. Alger-Sullivan contributed significantly to the area’s economy by supplying lumber across the U.S. and overseas, especially during the construction booms of the early 1900s. The decline of the timber industry eventually led to the mill’s closure, but its legacy is still remembered as a cornerstone of Century’s history.

A subsidiary of the company, the Escambia Railroad, ran from the sawmill complex in Century 55 miles northward into south Alabama to haul cut pine logs. The Escambia road and the mill itself used a variety of steam power over the years of operation. Surviving Prairie-type #100 has been cosmetically restored and returned to Century at the James Houston Jones Historic Park.