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Greenville Cotton Compress

Greenville, Hunt County

Marker Text

Once world's largest inland press. Set record for most bales pressed in 10-hour day (Sept. 30, 1912), when 2,073 bales were hand-trucked, pressed, and loaded in rail cars at rate of 3 a minute. Before invention of lifts and tractors all labor was done by skilled Negro workers, each man pushing a 500-pound bale and truck at a dead run, moving to relentless pace of work chants. W. B. Wise, an expert manager of labor, was superintendent; W.T. Williams, assistant; D. M. Love, engineer. This Blackland area cotton was then regarded most highly by spinners of England. (1971)

Marker Details

Address 1426 E. Lee St.
Location Description
Marker # 7796
Dedicated 1971
Size, Type 18" x 28"
Code mills - textile, fiber, gristmills, cotton gins; cotton
Latitude, Longitude 33.139647, -96.098844

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