Ehrigson Cotton Gin, Shelby, Austin County, TX

Significance: When cotton farmer William Ehrigson built his gin in 1917 near Shelby, Austin County, Texas, he was the only ginner in the immediate vicinity. Using an 80 horse power steam engine fired with cord wood, he operated three gin stands which removed the seeds from the hand-picked cotton. The ginned cotton was pressed into 500-lb bales and the seed conveyed to the adjacent seed house. William Ehrigson built the oak framed and metal sheathed structure. His hand-dug will provided great amounts of water necessary to run a steam engine. Ehrigson's son, Paul, helped in the gin from his youth and took over the operation in 1950. The steam engine was replaced in 1949 with three gasoline powered truck motors. The land the gin is situated on was sold to Tomme Hintz in 1952, but Paul Ehrigson continued to operate the gin until 1968. By that time, declining cotton production caused by the steady conversion of farm land to cattle production forced the gin to close. The gin and machinery are largely intact and presently stand idle.
Survey number: HABS TX-370