Elroy Coop Gin served as a cotton gin where some of the ginning in Travis County was done during the early 20th century. Elroy Coop Gin is one of many forgotten cotton gins of Travis County. Historians seem to remember this cotton gin though. Not only that, Elroy Coop Gin was one of the few gins of Elroy, Texas next to Elroy Gin Company and Elroy Farmer’s Gin Company.
Elroy Coop Gin was established sometime in 1878 on FM 812, right on the outskirts of Elroy, Texas on the Herbet Heine Farm. A grist mill was installed for seeding purposes. May and June were months of the summer season used to seed cotton. The warm weather proved to be ideal for seeding cotton altogether. Cotton was grown here also. Elroy Coop Gin was also known as Elroy Cooperative Gin and Elroy Co-op Gin.
The gin trash was run through a hammer mill equipped with a screen. So much machinery was used to power the equipment at this cotton gin. The gin used some heat to dry the green leaves in the cotton. Most of his cotton was sprayed with Margon by aerial application at a cost of about $3.75 per acre. The mixture was three quarts of Magron per acre. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384874620/)
Hilliard Nelson owned and operated Elroy Coop Gin with Tom Blomquist and Leslie Keeble. Hilliard Nelson was a cotton farmer himself. He was also a leader in many Travis County agricultural activities. Tom Blomquist was manager of the Elroy Coop Gin. J. W. Hokanson served as director of Elroy Coop Gin. J. I. Bittig was one of their workers. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385720213/)
Tom Blomquist would later become owner and operator of Elroy Coop Gin along with a few other cotton gins in Travis County around 1923. J. W. Hokanson would still serve as director of Elroy Coop Gin. By the 1920s, Elroy Coop Gin would become a small center for Travis County agricultural activities.
Herbert Heine, manager of the Elroy Co-op Gin in Travis County, listed the nine ginning steps in the Austin American as follows:
(1) Green boll catcher
(2) A 24-step dryer at 160-180 degrees temperature
(3) A 7-drum cleaner at the same temperature
(4) A bur machine
(5) A "stick" machine
(6) A second 7-drum cleaner with unheated air
(7) The gin stand
(8) A lint cleaner
(9) The bale press
(Ref: Austin American, Page 29, Thursday, September 23, 1965)
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386396945/)
The Austin American reported the Elroy Coop Gin was up for bid to any property owners who were interested by early 1955. (Ref: Austin American, Page 23, Sunday, January 9, 1955)
“BUILDING FOR SALE Scaled bids will be received until January 20. 1955 at 12 noon at which time bids will be opened at Elroy Co-op Gin, Elroy, Texas, on 5 room box house 30'x36', In good condition. Remit 10 of bid by certified check. Building must be moved within SO days aid reserve right to reject any and all bids. Address sealed bids Elroy Co-op Gin, Del Valle. Texas. For additional information see J. W. Hokanson, Elroy.”
Herbert Heine was the person who purchase Elroy Coop Gin along with the property and its buildings in 1955. Herbert Heine was then the new owner of Elroy Coop Gin. Many people knew that Herbert Heine was a progressive cotton grower in Elroy. He got a good job done at the Elroy Co-op Gin. The Elroy Co-op Gin would deliver him a grade of middling or better. (Ref: Austin American, Page 25, Friday, September 21, 1956)
The Austin American reported about Elroy Coop Gin using the latest automatic machinery on the date of August 12, 1955. So in 1955 Elroy Coop Gin was using the latest automatic machinery. This gin was operating with 5 people. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386369843/)
He had increased his cotton field bales by ¼th per acre and his profit more than $30 per acre in 1963 as parted in the Austin American. (Ref: Austin American, Page 36, Thursday, October 17, 1963)
“Herbert Heine, Elroy farmer and ginner, increased his cotton field bales by one fourth per acre and his profit more than $30 per acre in an insect control demonstration this year. He used the insecticide, Sevin, in cooperation with the country agent. The materials were provided by the Union Carbide Chemicals Company.”
The Austin American listed Herbert Heine as the owner and manager of Elroy Co-op Gin in 1965. He was also a ginner then too. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386435900/)
Herbert Heine shut down Elroy Co-op Gin sometime in 1974. The reason Elroy Co-op Gin was shut down is because Herbert Heine decided to retire from farming. So Elroy Co-op Gin was dissolved and shut down by mid-1974.
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