Burton Farmers Gin
Also known as: Burton Farmers Gin Association; Site No. 3
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Why it's listed
Burton Farmers Gin is a large frame cotton gin on Main Street in Burton, Texas, covered in sheet metal and rising two and three stories. Local cotton growers formed the Burton Farmers Gin Association in 1913, and the plant began operating with the 1914 cotton season. It grew over the years, gaining a coal house, an office, roof extensions and, in 1961, a raised central roof for a third story holding dryers and ducts. Equipment changed too: an automatic bale press arrived in 1921, five air blast gin stands replaced the originals in the mid-1920s, and a 125-horsepower engine was installed in 1926. The association ran the gin until 1974, longer than any other Burton gin under one management. It is the only surviving gin in the town and compares well with a brick ginhouse in Brenham, the only other known survivor in the county. Its full set of machinery adds to its importance. The property is now vacant.
Significance in brief: It is the sole surviving gin in Burton, a community defined by the cotton industry, and the nomination calls it a fine example of an early 20th century gin plant. It keeps a rare, full complement of processing equipment. It is nominated for its associations with local cotton production and Burton's role as a trade and processing center.
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 91000712, listed June 11, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. SE of Burton St., Burton |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | June 11, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000712 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1941 |
| Architect / builder | Weeren Brothers |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant; the Burton Farmers Gin Association operated the plant until 1974. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.17808, -96.59401 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 91000712.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29641569
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.