Gatewood-Shelton Gin
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Why it's listed
Located just north of Palestine's historic downtown, this 2-story, metal-frame building sheathed in corrugated sheet metal was built in 1937 as a cotton gin. J.L. Gatewood and E.H. Shelton contracted with the Murray Company of Dallas to construct and equip it with an 80-saw pneumatic gin. The site had hosted cotton-related businesses since the 1880s, beginning with the Eureka Gin Manufacturing Company. The gin ran through the 1950s and closed when cotton production in Anderson County declined; its machinery was dismantled in 1960 and moved to West Texas. Later uses included a farmer's market and a feed store, and in the early 1990s it became an antiques store and sandwich shop. Its listing rests on its role in local industry: it is the only remaining physical link to Palestine's cotton trade, and its original form, massing and materials survive. A small wood-frame storage building also remains on the property.
Significance in brief: It is nominated at the local level under Criterion A for its role in Palestine's once important cotton-related industry. It is the only surviving historic property tied to the city's cotton trade. Despite removal of the equipment in 1960, its form, massing and materials remain intact.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000637, listed June 3, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 304 E. Crawford, Palestine |
|---|---|
| County | Anderson County |
| Listed | June 3, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000637 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1937-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Murray Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now houses an antiques store and sandwich shop; ginning equipment was removed in 1960 and only minor exterior alterations have been made. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.76416, -101.62854 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000637.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107321098
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.