Burton Cotton Gin 4-6-2008

The day started out a bit foggy but not to worry clear skies were on the menu for today and oh what a day it turned out to be. Johnny and I had been in downtown Houston Saturday night and we had to meet up with the Old Farts Sports Car Club at the Gin. But first let me tell you about our drive.

Wild flowers were in full bloom lots of delicate pink flowers grew in bunches and appeared like ruffles and lace around many a sign. One type of wild flower the bright yellow ones reminded me of yellow eyelet, you ladies know what I mean, just peaking out from the edges of woods or creeping up from ditches. The burning red-orange of Indian paintbrush was just staring to color the waysides. Another yellow flower, sort of a deep golden sun colored one, was just popping up here and there. Bluebonnets were non-stop all over the place. We had to be careful of the many cars that had pulled over to take photos. Folks were everywhere as were the police, but I don’t think they passed out as many coupons as they wanted~~oh well. Having found our way to the Burton Cotton Gin, about 10 miles west of Brenham on highway 290, we were warmly greeted by the gang.

This original Cotton Gin began as a CO-OP by farmers in and around Burton, the last of its kind and a historical landmark. The engine that powers it is about the size of a large SUV maybe a Yukon. They show the actual running gin on the 3rd Saturday of the month in the mornings. I found out so many interesting things, from our great tour guides Linda Russell and Jerry More, about cotton and the cotton industry. I mean stuff you, well me any way, have never given a thought to. Do you know how they squeeze that little seed to get to the “oil”? What about the numerous items that “leftovers” are used for? —- No I didn’t’ think so. Any who we got to watch a short movie about the gin and some of us-Silvia- got to play dress up. Yes photos can be found over here. There were display items to see in the Museum even a bowl weevil or two, stories were told and a souvenir gift shop waiting for a visit.

Linda stayed at the museum while we followed Jerry out to the gin, where he gave us {no not Gin the liquor} an informative run down of its intricate workings and nuances. It smelled like, well like, ok imagine if you will an old barn and a junkyard. Yes it smelled like that, sorta familiar and friendly. He explained the growth of cotton plants and how to grow them. We even got to take a couple of seeds to plant at our own homes. You see it's almost plantin time, just a couple more weeks then its knuckle deep for the fuzzy little seeds, in well drained sunny dirt. {yes dirt can be sunny).

This was a very fun learning experience and well worth the gas to go, not to mention seeing the awesome beautiful Texas countryside covered in wild flower blooms. I’m sorry for those of you that couldn’t make it... Eat your hearts out cause I so know you are green with jealously. Y’all have got to see this place! And the time to go is April 18 – 20, that’s when the BURTON COTTON GIN FESTIVAL is. And when you get there tell ‘em you heard about all the cotton pickin stuff going on from the Texas Old Farts Sports Car Club.

See y'all