History of the Weiss Gin in Cele, Texas explored.

The Weiss 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. Weiss Gin is one of the many forgotten cotton gins of Travis County. This news article will explore the history of Weiss Gin.

Brothers Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss both owned and operated the Weiss Gin together in the small town of Cele, northwest of Manor around 1892. The Weiss Gin was formed as a partnership and domestic for-profit corporation. Weiss Gin was the second oldest gin next to Meier Gin. Weiss Gin was one of the 5 gins which operated within the confines of the small town called Cele. Alton Weiss Gin Co and Henry Weiss Gin Co both owned the Weiss Gin.

Addresses for Weiss 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.


An unfortunate incident occurred in 1951 when gin pressman Hence Black lost his left arm while getting mangled in the whirling saws. He died at died in Brackenridge Hospital 3 hours later. (Ref: Austin American, Gin Pressman Dies Here After Arm Mangled, 1951)

“Hence Black, 43, of Route 3, Manor, died in Brackenridge Hospital Friday about three and a half hours after his left arm was mangled in the whirling saws of the gin where he was employed as a pressman. The accident happened about 11:50 a. m. when Black attempted to free a "choke" of lint from the number one stand at the Weiss Gin Company at Cele near Manor.  

“Justice of the Peace Frank W. McBee said the injur was a contributory factor to death because of shock induced by the multiple fractures and lacerations of the left arm, but that actual cause of the death was "asphyxiation caused by inhalation of vomitous material." Judge McBee explained that due to Black's shocked condition, he was unable to dispose of some vomitous material which he drew into his lungs during surgery and died because he was unable to breathe. Alton Weiss, gin owner, said Black stuck his hand into the saws before the gin motor was turned off and the saws jerked him into the stand up to his elbow. (The stand, Weiss said is the part of the gin machinery in which the lint and seed are separated by whirling saws.) Weiss said the gin motor had been slowed and the first part of the choke (a part of backfire by the cotton had been cleared in another part of the gin when the accident happened).”


A huge ton of cotton was baled at the Weiss Gin in 1952. The first bale of the season was fined and baled at the Alton Weiss gin at Cele. “John Pokorney ginner the first bale of the season at the Alton Weiss gin at Cele. Weiss reported 131 bales ginned through Aug. 30. Last season's total was 1,730 bales.” (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/357804770/)

The first bale of the 1952 cotton season was brought in by John Pokorney and was ginned at the Alton Weiss gin at Cele. The bale weighed 538 pounds from 1,500 pounds of seed cotton, with 960 pounds of seed. This bale sold for $73 per ton. (Ref: Austin American, Pokorney Gets First Bale for Cole Gin, August 19, 1952)

“The first bale of the 1952 cotton season was brought in by John Pokorney and was ginned at the Alton Weiss gin at Cele. The bale weighed 538 pounds from 1,500 pounds of seed cotton, with 960 pounds of seed which sold for $73 per ton. Weiss bought the bale at 40¢.”

Alton Weiss was the owner and manager of the Alton Weiss Gin Co in 1954. There was not a heavy cotton crop due to the drought that year. (Ref: Austin American, Gin Season Starting Up At Richland, August 12, 1954)

“The ginning season has gotten off to a good start here, according to Alton Weiss, owner and manager of the Alton Weiss Gin Co. at Cele (Rt. 3, Manor). Due to the drought condition and acreage reduction there will not be a heavy cotton crop this year, but most farmers are expecting an average turnout The first bale ginned here at Cele was brought in by Rudolph Frederickson of Manor. Produced on the Bloor Estate about 34 miles north of Manor, the bale weighed 535 pounds, from 1,600 pounds of seed cotton, with 1,030 pounds of seed. Weiss bought the bale for 34 cents.”

However by then less cotton was being produced in the area. Other cotton gins were being established around Travis County and the Manor area along with Pflugerville.


Cele Gin (Weiss Gin) caught on fire in 1962. Cele Gin (Weiss Gin) was 1 of the 2 operating gins which burned in August 1962 after ginning about 450 bales. The Weiss Gin (Cele Gin) was still operated by brothers Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss in 1962. The Weiss Gin was also known as Cele Gin by then. (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 (Weiss Gin) according to an Austin American news article from 1962. This fire casualty resulted in ending a ginning tenure at Cele Gin (Weiss Gin).  “Alton Weiss' Gin at Cele, in northeastern Travis County, is a fire casualty, ending a ginning tenure "that has gone on forever.”” 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. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384895656/)

Weiss Gin was located at 18818 Cameron Road, Manor, Texas, US 78653. The addresses for Weiss Gin were Route 3, Cele, Texas US 78653, Route 3, Manor, Texas, and 18818 Cameron Road, Cele, Texas US 78653.