History of the Cele Gin in Cele, Texas explored.

The Cele Gin was one of the many cotton gins in the small town of Cele, Texas operated by Alton Weiss. He operated close to 5 cotton gins in Cele. Cele Gin is one of the many forgotten cotton gins of Travis County. This news article will explore the history of Cele Gin.

 

Cele Gin was operated by the Cele Gin Company from 1882 to 1962 in the small town of Cele. Brothers Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss both owned and operated Cele Gin. More machinery and equipment were added to Cele Gin in 1892. More cotton was ginned that year than any other year.

Addresses for Cele Gin were Rt. 3, Manor, Route 3, Manor, Route 3, Cele, Route 3, Cele, TX, Route 3, Manor, TX, Route 3, Cele, Texas, and Route 3, Manor, Texas. The phone for Cele Gin was 53-1423.

Cele Gin was reestablished by the Alton Gin Company with a capital stock of $20,000 dollars in 1926. Alton Weiss was responsible for funding the Cele Gin and financing the Alton Gin Company. Alton Weiss operated the Cele gin in northeastern Travis County in 1932. He was the sole operator by then. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366366782/)

According to the Austin American, the Cele Gin Company had ginned 250 bales in 1948. Both operators were planning to gin between 1,000 and 1,200 bales that year. “At Cele, in the northern part of the county, the Cele Gin Company has ginned 250 bales. Operators are planning to gin between 1,000 and 1,200 bales this year.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/385924912/)

Cele Gin at Cele was referred to as “the country crossroads gin” and “early bird gin” in 1948 according to the Austin American.

“Pictured is the country crossroads gin at Cele, northern Travis County, which is typical of nearly 100 gins in this part of Central Texas. The empty gin yard symbolizes the short crop for 1948, which. American-Statesman farm staff writers report will be from one-third to one-half less than a year ago through the compress thus far this season.”

 

Cele Gin caught on fire in 1962. Cele Gin was 1 of the 2 operating gins which burned in August 1962 after ginning about 450 bales. The Cele Gin was still operated by brothers Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss in 1962. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384911675/)

“Two of Travis County's operating gins burned in August, after ginning about 450 bales. These were the Cele Gin, operated by Weiss Brothers, and Pilot Knob Gin, operated by C. E. Boyd.”

“It should be mentioned that all of the cotton produced in Travis County is not ginned in the county, also that some cotton not produced in the county is ginned there. However, the total production has always been greater than the bales ginned in the county. Ginners concerned report that much of the cotton normally handled by the Cele Gin was ginned this year in Williamson County.”

This incident put an end to Cele Gin. Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss decided to shut down Cele Gin and the Cele Gin Company in 1963 because everything was a total loss after the fire.

Cele Gin was located at 8906 Cele Road, Manor, Texas US 78653. Some addresses for Cele Gin were 8906 Cele Road, Cele, Texas US 78653, Route 3, Manor, Texas, and Route 3, Cele, Texas.