Kragon's Olean Chemical Company
When the great forests of Breathitt County tempted outside timber concerns (much like what is going on today) into our land Quicksand became their center of operations. We know that Eastern Kentucky Hardwoods Company, and later Mowbray and Robinson Lumber Company became giant mills. Yet, all of the businesses did not saw lumber. For example, at Kragon, just two miles upstream from Quicksand, a charcoal company was established in 1918. Called the Olean Chemical Company (from Olean, New York), it was owned by David Hancock and his son Robert. The company also produced acetate of lime, alcohol, and some chordwood. A small community grew up around the plant and the hollow called Stillhouse Branch was full of company houses. (Today, not a single house or building remains except the walls of one of the stone building that is now part of a large barn. A coal company has developed the large bottoms at Kragon which once was the site of the Olean Chemical Company.) These photos were taken in May of 1918 and show various sights such as the construction of the boiler of the huge charcoal plant. The company existed at Kragon until about 1932 and was finally scraped. These photos were taken by Green Berry Wood.
Photos:
1. Store House at Kragon - 1918
3. Bringing In The Logs - 1918