Perhaps it was the success of the Springhill Sawmill that encouraged International Paper Company to consider Springhill as a site for a different type of mill.  In 1937 the big paper company chose Springhill for a large Kraft paper mill.  This selection changed Springhill almost overnight from a sleep little sawmill town to an industrial town of almost boom town proportions,  Men cane from near and far to apply for work in constructing the mill and hoping for permanent employment upon the mill's completion.  The influx of people greatly over taxed the housing facilities of the area.  Men lived in tents, in what is now the city park.  Several families would crowd together in dwellings that were meant for one family.  It was to take several years for supply to catch up with  demand in the housing market.

Other industries soon joined the paper mill in Springhill.  In 1946 International Paper began construction of a box plant, which now ships products all over the world.  Stauffer Chemical was the next industry to locate in Springhill.  Stauffer began production of aluminum sulfate in 1949.  In 1960 Arizona Chemical Company constructed a multi-million dollar plant in Springhill, and began operation with 65 employees.  American Cyanamid was next to join the list of Springhill industries.

From that historic date in 1937 when International Paper Company selected Springhill for the site of its paper mill, the names of Springhill and International Paper were almost synonymous in this area.  As International Paper Company went, so went Springhill.  Therefore, it was with a great deal of shock and despair that Springhill received the announcement on October 10, 1978, that the sprawling paper mill which provided a multi- million dollar payroll, was to close and be torn down.  Springhill almost collectively went into shock.  

As it was in 1933, when the Pine woods Lumber Company ceased operation, many left Springhill to seek employment elsewhere.   Many people stayed.  The sons and grandsons of the men who had built the mill secured jobs with the demolition companies and helped tear the mill down.  The people of Springhill watched with lumps in their throats and an empty feeling in the pits of their stomach as the old mill was blown up, dismantled, and hauled away.  

Springhill was not to become a ghost town.  She proved to be a city of survivors.  As you can see from our logo on the main page.  We all think "Springhill is Special"  This is why we have survived in spite of all the difficulties.  There were still names like Arizona Chemical, American Cyanamid, Stauffer Chemical, and Tyson Foods to provide employment.  A new source of jobs also began to develop in the form of the oil industry.  New oil fields were discovered in the area.  Springhill men and women went to work, not only drilling and producing oil and gas, but in the jobs that provided services to that industry.

International Paper had not abandoned Springhill.  Almost like Phoenix rising from the ashes, its  new Wood Products Plant began to take shape in the dust where the old Kraft Paper Mill had stood.  Many of Springhill's sons and daughters are once again employed at a saw mill ... an ultra-modern, mechanized, state of the art mill, but a saw mill none the less. 

The first school house of Springhill was built on Rock Hill in 1897, on the site what was Tyson Foods on the Plain Dealing Highway.  The building was a one room, log structure.  Grades one through eight were taught at the school.  Enrollment was 26, with W. A. Miller as the first teacher.  Mr. Miller became a staunch advocate for more and better education.  He was instrumental in having a petition drawn up, which if passed, would be a tax for the support of the schools.  Although many people favored the tax, some did not , and trouble broke out.  
Even though the tax was not brought to a vote, education did not flounder.  In 1902 a large auditorium-type school building was erected.  Arthur Pope was the principal.  Enrollment was 62.  This school, which consisted of ten grades, kept no permanent records and issued no report cards to pupils. 

" History of Webster Parish Schools" states that, "The man who well deserves the credit for establishing a high school is W. B. Smith".  Smith began teaching in Springhill in 1909, and by 1910 he was successful in having a school approved as a State High School by the Louisiana Department of Education.  The first graduates of S.H.S. were in 1910. They were Mrs. G. A. Reynolds & Arthur Miller.

Education in Springhill continued to grow.  In 1920 a school erected,  and J. L. Liggin became principal.  In 1927 a new brick building was built.   S. R. Emmons was principal at the new school.  During this period Springhill became an accredited high school.  This period also saw Springhill absorb small schools through consolidation.  1927 was also the year that the State Athletic Association included Springhill in its membership.  

The early school house served the community as a church.  The Church, known as Union Church, was interdenominational.  Worship services were held in the school until 1920, when Pine Woods Lumber sold one acre building sites to both the Methodist and Baptist Churches for $1.00 each.  Materials were donated to the town to construct a church building.  At first the Baptists and Methodists shared this building, meeting on alternate Sundays.  Later, the Methodists offered to sell their interest in this building to the Baptists for $500, provided the Baptist moved the Union Church building to what is now the site of the First Baptist Church.  The Methodists retained the original site and erected a new structure.  

In 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Dees established the first telephone service for Springhill.  They operated the  Springhill Telephone Company from their home.  Originally, the company served approximately eight families.

In 1912, Springhill had grown large enough to support more businesses.  It was about this time that the area know as "The Hill" came into being.  The Hill consisted of a filling station, two general stores, and a barber shop.  "The Hill" area of Springhill is now heavily traveled Butler Street.  Although "The Hill" has been gone for years, the term is still a familiar colloquialism in Springhill.

Since the first sawmill began operation in 1936, Springhill's economy has been tied directly or indirectly to the forest and trees which cover her rolling hills.  In acknowledgment of this fact,  each October we celebrate with "The Lumberjack Festival".

We have a first class Industrial Park, that would be a tribute to any area.  We are thankful for every business in our area.  Springhill is Special and will always spring back. 

On February 2, 2002, Springhill celebrated her 100th birthday.  A Centennial clock was purchased with donation from citizens.  It is located at the North end of Main Street.

The late Dr. Gary Bonner wrote a book for the Centennial Celebration, but he died June 16, 2001, about one month after completion of the history book for his city.  Its completion was one of his proudest achievements, he had said.

Ann Bonner, wife of Dr. Gary Bonner, took the article below from his book, SPRINGHILL, LOUISIANA:  The City That Pine Trees Built", which he wrote for the Centennial Celebration.

Springhill's industrial history began in 1896 when William Buchanan built a sawmill in the community known then as Barefoot, LA.  It was one of seven sawmills from Stamps AR to Jena LA that Buchanan built along his L&A Railroad.  Trappers and farmers earlier had settled these north Louisiana lands.  So timbering and farming existed side by side for decades, from 1810 to 1937.  

In the 1920's oil discoveries and production began, with fields in neighboring Homer, Haynesville, and Shongaloo.  In the 1950's oil was drilled in the immediate Springhill area.   Springhill businessmen also found oil just across the line in southern Arkansas.

The paper mill economy began in 1937 when International Paper Company announced plans to build a kraft mill.  It began operation in 1938 and continued until 1979.   Many residents of Springhill attribute their migration to Springhill to the job opportunities provided by IPC.

Arizona Chemical Company was a related industry generated by the paper industry and later owned by it.   The closing of the paper mill and chemical plant changed Springhill's economy  drastically.  The North Webster Industrial Park continues to draw varieties of new industry to the area.

A town's history is not only  industries, farming, and mineral extraction.  The town of Springhill has matured also in citizenry and local businesses.  The entrepreneurial spirit has seen the coming and going of many pharmacies, dress shops, shoe shops, furniture stores, grocery stores, service stations, appliance stores, cafes and restaurants, movie theaters, hardware stores, bowling alleys, jewelry stores, men's clothing stores, and banks.  In addition, many civic-minded organizations provide social and service opportunities. The parish library provides books, videos, magazines, and computer services.

Early on, education was deemed important, and the outlying community schools eventually gave way to the more centralized elementary, upper elementary, and high school.  Springhill students have fond memories of  academic excellence spurred on by caring teachers, sports teams coached to greatness, and friendships forged over many years of togetherness.

Churches of many faiths have been a part of the life of Springhill's citizens as well.   Histories and photos of the churches are included.

Biographies of citizens are given, along with "folklore stories" and some historical conclusions.   The appendices  give valuable information on eras of history, Buchanan's saw mill empire, mayors, school principals, veterans of WW II, organizations and historical events.