Big Black Creek Historical Association

Cotton processing at the Mercer Cotton Gin in Madison County

1 Cotton plant ready to be picked

3 Loaded cotton truck 

5 Cotton staged and waiting to be processed

7 Raw cotton processing

9 The Gin is computerized and very modern

11 Bi-product of the cotton being loaded after separation

13 Inserting the wires that the compactor will automatically tighten and secure to the bale

15 Headed to the wrapping machine

17 Baled, wrapped, loaded and ready to be shipped.

2 Cotton truck used for transporting cotton from the fields

4 The Mercer Gin

6 Hydraulic unloading truck bed

8 Inside the Mercer Gin, very clean and orderly operation

10 Cotton tumbling while being processed

12 The cotton is being compacted in preparation for baling

14 A cotton bale after the compactor has finished tightening the wires

16 Wrapped with plastic and ready to be loaded on a trailer