The Alton 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. Alton Gin is one of the many forgotten cotton gins of Travis County. This news article will explore the history of Weiss Gin. 
The Alton Gin none other than the Alton Weiss Gin which was owned by Alton Weiss. Alton Weiss Gin was owned by a partnership and domestic for-profit corporation called Alton Gin Company. Alton Gin was one of the 5 gins which operated within the confines of the small town called Cele.
Alton Gin was established and operated in the small town of Cele, northwest of Manor in 1928 by Alton Weiss, D. F. Strickland, and John T. Lomas. Alton Gin was owned by a partnership and domestic for-profit corporation called Alton Gin Company which operated within the confines of the small town called Cele during the 20th century. Alton Gin Company, was established with a capital stock of $20,000 dollars. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/366366782/)
A huge ton of cotton was baled at the Alton Gin in 1952. The first bale of the season was fined and baled at the Alton 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. The ginning season had gotten off to a good start despite the drought that year. 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. This led to the decline of Alton Gin.
“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 Alton Gin was ginned this year in Travis County.”
Here is what led to the decline of Alton Gin.
The rural wildfire incident of August 1962 is what led to the decline of Alton Gin and their eventual closure. Alton Gin caught on fire in August 1962 and perished into flames after ginning about 450 bales. Alton Gin was operated by brothers Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss at the time.
This incident put an end to Alton Gin (Weiss Gin) according to an Austin American news article from 1962. This fire casualty resulted in ending a ginning tenure at Alton Gin (Weiss Gin). Alton Weiss and Henry Weiss decided to shut down Alton Gin and the Cele Gin Company in 1963 because everything was a total loss after the fire. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/384895656/)
[Alton Weiss' Gin at Cele, in northeastern Travis County, is a fire casualty, ending a ginning tenure that has gone on forever.]
These are the factors which led to the decline of Alton Gin and closure of Alton Gin.
• The rural wildfire incident of August 1962 which led to Alton Gin getting caught on fire and perishing into flames.
• Establishment of other cotton gins in Travis County and Williamson County. This included the establishment of other cotton gins in Manor, Pflugerville, Cele, Taylor, Round Rock, Georgetown, Jarrell, and Austin.
• Less cotton being produced in the Cele area.
Alton Gin was located at 18818 Cameron Road, Manor, Texas, US 78653. The addresses for Alton Gin were Route 3, Cele, Texas US 78653, Route 3, Manor, Texas, and 18818 Cameron Road, Cele, Texas US 78653.
Addresses for Alton Gin were as follows:
Rt. 3, Manor
Route 3, Manor
Route 3, Cele
Route 3, Cele, TX
Route 3, Manor, TX
Route 3, Cele, Texas
Route 3, Manor, Texas
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