Luling in Caldwell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

From Spin to Gin

Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2022

1. From Spin to Gin Marker

Inscription. Gears, shafts, wheels and belts captured and carried the force of the turbine's spinning shaft to power the millstones, gin stands, baler, elevators, augers and other moving parts of the mill.

Captions
Lower Left: In 1885 Zedler and his partners replaced Meriwether's waterwheel with more efficient and powerful Leffel turbines like this one.

Lower Middle (L): A set of gears switched the spin from the turbine's vertical shafts to a horizontal shaft running the entire length of the mill. Belts on large wheels transferred power to other shafts.

Lower Middle (R): Shaft from Turbine.

Lower Right: Smaller belts connected every machine in the mill-from augers and elevators to the gin stands and baler-to a shaft, which supplied power whenever the belts were engaged.

Erected by Zedler Mill Museum and Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.

Location. 29° 40.012′ N, 97° 39.06′ W. Marker is in Luling, Texas, in Caldwell County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of South Laurel Avenue and South Magnolia Street (State Highway 80). The

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marker is located in the central section of the Historic Zedler Mill Museum and Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1170 South Laurel Avenue, Luling TX 78648, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Using Your 'Head' (a few steps from this marker); Capitalizing on the Need for Feed (within shouting distance of this marker); The Same Old Grind (within shouting distance of this marker); Mixing to Match (within shouting distance of this marker); From Boll to Bolt (within shouting distance of this marker); Responding to a Looming Need (within shouting distance of this marker); Going with the Grain (within shouting distance of this marker); Why Here? Why Then? (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Luling.

More about this marker. The Zedler Mill Park and its parking are free to the public daily. Donations are appreciated when visiting the Zedler Mill Museum.

Also see . . .
1. Zedler Mill Museum & Park. The City of Luling, Texas

In 1885, Bob Innes, John Orchard, J.K. Walker, and a German immigrant mill expert named Fritz Zedler, purchased the site and mill equipment naming it the "Luling Water Power Company". Soon they added a lumber sawmill and Fritz Zedler replaced the existing stone dam with
Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2022

2. The From Spin to Gin Marker is on the left of the two markers
a wooden dam and penstock that could generate more power. Buying out his three partners within a few years, Fritz Zedler became sole owner in 1888 and invited his oldest son, Berthold, to be his partner. Not long after the acquisition, the entire three story facility caught fire in October 1888 and was totally destroyed. The citizens of Luling promised to hold the sale of their cotton crops for the Zedlers to rebuild. Devastated, but not giving up, the Zedler family rebuilt the mill factory and within seven weeks, it was operational.

(Submitted on September 1, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Water Power. Texas State Historical Association

In 1841 William Kennedy reported that he believed the streams of Texas afforded great facilities for water mills, but by 1882 there were few mills in the state over twenty-five years old and little utilization of water power except in localities where there were swift moving streams with natural falls, such as a woolen manufacturing plant on the Comal River. Many of the mills had to maintain an auxiliary steam plant. A natural dam and series of three falls at Marble Falls resulted in the establishment of a number of flour mills, cotton gins, gristmills, and a cottonseed oil mill. By 1890 a new type of turbine wheel had begun to replace older
Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2022

3. Water Source for the Zedler Gin
styles of water wheels, and some electric power was being generated by hydroelectric plants.

(Submitted on September 1, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the From Spin to Gin Marker and Zedler Gin image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2022

4. The view of the From Spin to Gin Marker and Zedler Gin

The Zedler Gin with its water source image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, August 21, 2022

5. The Zedler Gin with its water source

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 97 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 1, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.