The abandoned gin once located off Highway 21 (TX 21) in Niederwald, Texas was actually the former Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company which operated from 1925 to 1980. Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company once produced and sold cotton to the Niederwald community. It is actually an old abandoned cotton gin better known as Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company. The Niederwald Cotton Gin is one of the many forgotten cotton gins in Hays County. Old cotton gins have treasures.
Niederwald Cotton Gin was known as Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company, Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Co, Niederwald Gin Co, Niederwald Gin Company, and Niederwald Gin.
The cotton gin on Highway 21 was built and completed in December 1913 by Niederwald Planters Gin Co. Ginning operations began in 1914. Niederwald Cotton Gin once served as the centerpiece of Niederwald, Texas during the 20th century. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/357087077/)
Arthur H Schuelke incorporated Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company (Niederwald Cotton Gin) on February 25, 1925. Arthur H Schuelke was the owner of Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company. This cotton gin was established during that same year. Niederwald Cotton Gin once served as the centerpiece of Niederwald, Texas during the 20th century. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0004312500)
A two-cylinder Y-model Fairbanks-Morse engine that powered its machinery at 120 horsepower at a rate thereof 300 RPM. There was also a second two-cylinder Y-model Fairbanks-Morse machine that was later installed by the company. (Ref: https://www.oldtacomamarine.com/engines/fairbanks/niederwald.html)
Niederwald Cotton Gin “put out” some over 1,000 bales of cotton every season. Cotton would be dumped into carts and onto a belt which would be run by overhead gears on a wall and celling.There were times when cylinder heads of that Fairbanks-Morse engine blew out. Work would be delayed until the damage could be repaired in time. It still took a long time to harvest cotton even the then-current technology.
The press crew would keep track of the number of bales produced. They would record the number of bales produced by markings. The press crew were in charge keeping record of markings.
Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Co directors would use the at the Niederwald Lodge Hall for meetings. Freemason Society would allow them use the lodge hall if needed. Freemason Society would on occasion rent out to Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Co from time to time.
However this cotton gin did not operate without any accidents. There have been people who been killed on the line of duty. Many were serious injured.
One example here is a news article under the headlines of Schaefer Dies In Gin Accident from Lockhart Post Register reporting about the accidental death of Marvin Schaeffer. He was transfer a belt from one pulley-to another when the lever broke. When the lever broke, he fell across the moving belt and was thrown against an object resulting in an instant death. (Ref: Lockhart Post Register, Schaefer Dies In Gin Accident, Page 1, 1943)
“Marvin Schaeffer, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Schaeffer, was instantly killed at Niederwald in a gin accident which occurred about 19 o'clock, Wednesday morning at the Niederwald Gin. Young Schaefer was attempting to transfer a belt from one pulley-to another when the lever broke and he fell across the fast moving belt and was thrown against some object with such force as to cause instant death. His father was working in the same gin with him and saw the accident. Authorities at Lockhart were called and Justice of Peace L. W. Booton rendered a verdict of accidental death. The body was brought to Lockhart and prepared for burial by L. M. McCurdy, funeral director. The body will lie in state at McCurdy Funeral Home until two o'clock Friday afternoon when it will be removed to the Niederwald Lutheran Church where religious services will be held at three o'clock. Burial will follow in Uhland Cemetery.”
New equipment was added to Plant No. 2 of the Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company in October 1950. In addition, the Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company had installed a 105-horsepower engine operating with butane gas and a tower drier. A major overhaul of gin stands was completed in time for use in the current season. Manager H. C. Graef laid the $13,000 expansion program which resulted in a new cleaning process that follows separation of seed and lint. (Ref: Austin American, Page 60, October 13, 1950)
Vernon Smith was also president of the Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Co. and had been a successful farmer and rancher since he graduated from Lytton Springs High School. (Ref: Lockhart Post-Register, Page 8, Thursday, August 25, 1960)
New officers were elected to serve as directors for Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Co in 1962 as reported in the Lockhart Post Register in 1962. NIEDERWALD NEWS— Smith Heads Gin Company (by Joyce Gail Schnelke) Officers elected were president, Vernon Smith; vice president, Davit Schubert Sr.; secretary, Otto Graef; manager, Edwin Homann. (Ref: Lockhart Post Register, Page 7, Thursday, February 15, 1962)
The San Marcos Record newspaper reported on Niederwald Cotton Gin producing more than over 1,000 bales of cotton for the fall season of 1966. “It’s been reported that the Niederwald Gin “put out” some over 1,000 bales of cotton this season. Sounds like a pretty good cotton crop, despite the long time it took to harvest.” (Ref: San Marcos Record, Page 44, October 20, 1966)
Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company was forced to dissolve in March 17, 1980 as Arthur H Schuelke had not filed a franchise tax with the State of Texas. The company's right to transact business in Texas was revoked because Arthur H Schuelke had not filed a franchise tax or paid a franchise tax as required by law. That is how State of Texas declared Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company forfeited. (Ref: https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0004312500)
Arthur H Schuelke was reaching old age and could no longer take care of the cotton plant he once ran and had built himself with his employees.
Lineaus Lorette bought the small town of Niederwald, Texas in 1982. With that purchase came the former cotton gin that belonged to Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company. He took up esidence in the old cotton gin next to the old Niederwald City Hall. He lived in the cotton gin all alone by himself. Although he owned the cotton gin itself, he actually lived in a shed offsite from Highway 21.
While working out at the YMCA, he didn’t like the feel of the facility’s rubber medicine balls and decided he’d learn how to make his own hand-stitched leather version. He based his own business called Lineaus Athletic Company out of the old Niederwald Cotton Gin. Lineaus Athletic Company manufactured medicine balls. These medicine balls were manufactured using hand-stitched leather. Lineaus Lorette claimed Niederwald, Texas would soon be “the medicine ball capital of the world. (Ref: https://bigbendsentinel.com/2020/05/06/lineaus-lorette-communist-accountant-art-collector-rabble-rouser/)
Now Lineaus did not modify or alter any of the structures on the site or building on his property. However he did use one of the plants as his manufacturing base.
During sometime in the 1990s, Lineaus Lorette left Niederwald and returned to West Texas to care for his ailing mother as her health was declining. This led the cotton gin to fall into a further dilapidated state and become abandoned once againand would sit vacant for a number of years.
A 1999 news article from the Letters to the Editor column of Lockhart Post Register stated Niederwald Cotton Gin and Niederwald-Mendoza Gin Company were one of the oldest buildings in Niederwald. This cotton gin had already been abandoned and sitting derelict in 1999. (Ref: Lockhart Post Register, Page 2, December 09, 1999)
Letters to the Editor
Part of Niederwald history in danger of being torn down I am 13 years old and I have been a resident of Niederwald all my life. My parents have lived in Niederwald since 1983. My father was born and raised in Niederwald. His family has been here since the late 1800's.
I am writing because a part of the history of Niederwald is in jeopardy of being sold and/or torn down. I'm talking about the Niederwald Gin and the Niederwald General Store. I've always wondered what would happen to some of the oldest buildings in Niederwald, but I didn't think that so many residents who haven't lived here that long would want to tear it down. I understand they don't have roots or memories that include Niederwald, but that is no reason to destroy part of the history of town.
I might move away from this town when I get older, but I would like for it to be here for my family to come and see where I grew up. When nothing is left, what will there be to see of the old Niederwald? There are very few people left who know the history of Niederwald, and a lot of the new residents don't care about its history. I feel this way because I have been raised to be proud of where I come from and my heritage, and it's beginning to look like there will be nothing left of old Niederwald.
Sincerely, Amber Schulze
A handful of urban explorers and residents of this area explored the old cotton gin. There are a few photo albums with pictures of this old cotton gin and plants on Flickr. So this place seemed to have been well known to Austin area residents. This old cotton gin would sit vacant for a number of years until 2014.
The dilapidated cotton gin that abandoned for years had been torn down in the year 2014. All treasures were destroyed in the process of demolition. A Canadian company called Walton Development and Management purchased land where the cotton gin once served the community. Walton Development and Management intends to sell the land to developers who will turn it into One Niederwald Place. There are plans for massive development. (Ref: https://www.statesman.com/article/20141115/NEWS/311159696)
Niederwald Cotton Gin was located on Highway 21, Niederwald, Texas, US 78640.
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