Cotton Gin

During the ginning season, farmers brought seed cotton to the gin in mule-drawn wagons, approaching from the east and moving down the slope into the shed porch to be weighed before their loads were sucked up into the gin. After unloading, they drove their empty wagons into Johnson Mill Road, returned to collect seed from the drive-under seed box on the east side, and then waited for baled cotton at the loading dock on the south side of the building. A March 1918 family photograph titled "A busy day at the gin" shows seven or eight wagons spread across the slope above the building as farmers waited to deliver cotton. The building is mainly constructed of patented Miracle Ho’low Block concrete blocks manufactured under license in Jefferson by Scott Eth-ridge, brother of Mr. Ira. The ginning machinery now in the building was installed in 1930 and includes three 80-saw gin stands supplied by Lummus Cotton Gin Company of Columbus, Georgia. Pipes carried seed cotton to the machines and cotton lint to the press. The gin was originally powered by a steam engine, whose foundations remain visible on the west side, and a drive shaft from that engine still remains in the gin house. On the south side, a two-bin press with bins rotating around a central axle allowed filling and compaction, and finished bales were weighed before passing through the sliding door to the loading dock.

Georgia · United States