Burton Cotton Gin and Museum Receives $25,000 Grant

(BURTON, TEXAS) The Burton Cotton Gin & Museum will be able to complete the restoration of the Wehring Shoe Shop and Residence with the help of a $25,000.00 community development grant. The grant, provided by Bluebonnet Electric and LCRA, will enable them to complete the restoration of one of four historical buildings comprising the Burton Cotton Gin & Museum, and continue tours to the Wehring Shoe Shop. This leather shop, in operation from 1921 to 1976, includes all of the equipment, tools and supplies used to repair footwear, harnesses, saddles and other leather items used by the Wehring family. This restoration project will allow the residence to be used as an educational center and as a community meeting facility. Plans are to offer classes in computers, weaving, quilting and other crafts, and the multifunction community room will be used for meetings of groups of up to 20 people. The BCG&M is also
planning to create a state of the art research library specializing in the history of cotton production. This future library will house all of the original documents in the archives from the Burton Farmers Gin and
written and oral histories of Burton individuals including the Wehring family. The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA's Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA's electric and water service areas as part of LCRA's effort to give back to the communities it serves. Bluebonnet Electric is one of LCRA's 42 wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.