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Location DB > United States > Texas > Abilene > The Cottonseed Plant
 Name
The Cottonseed Plant
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Explorer Zero on 9/18/2005 1:23 PM
last modified by Explorer Zero on 7/3/2016 12:36 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled as Demolished, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
About 2 acres with an office building, factory, warehouse and various smaller buildings. Its actually like an industrial complex that covers 2.5 blocks. The building itself is a typical 2 story concrete and masonry structure connected to material handling hoppers, conveyors and other apparatus. I suspect it was built in the early 1920s and its on an active rail spur.

While its in pretty bad cosmetic condition, structurally it seems to be Ok. There are active businesses adjacent to it and those employees cut through this property and the rail spur area on weekdays.
 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Demolished
Accessibility: - select -
Recommendation: forget it
 Physical Information
Address
RR tracks and 8th St
Abilene, Texas
United States
Owner: Formerly Archer Daniels Midland
  • See a map of this location
  •  Hazards
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • water
  • air quality
  • fall hazards via holes in floors and walls, broken glass
  •  Interesting Features
    Some very large furnaces, very large screw conveyors other weird machinery some of which is very large used for processing cottonseed into oil and cattle feed. Did I mention there are very large tumbleweeds here?
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • locked gates
  • burglar bars
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 0
    Closed: 0
     Required Equipment
  • flashlight
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    Southern Cottonseed Oil now part of Archer Daniels Midland built many almost identical oil processing plants like this all across the southern states. This facility extracted the oil from cotton seeds for use in products such as paint, industrial lubricants even mayonaise. The hulls and lint were sold as by-products.

    The cotton seed oil industry took a big hit when petroleum was discovered in Texas. Then soybean oil largely replaced cottonseed oil in foods and most of these old extraction plants shut down. This one appears to have been converted to handle other products such as peanuts at one time.

    Across the street is a smaller building that I believe housed the management or adminsitrative offices. From 2000 to 2005 that building was owned by a suicide victims support group. See it here http://www.uer.ca/...ow.asp?locid=32346 Now its abandoned too.

    Today its abandoned for all practical purposes but its got a real nice rustic atmosphere, some mega machinery still in place, freight train action and add to that the occasional bum, hobo, employee encounter make this Abilene's most enjoyable exploring opportunity.

    UPDATE: Its gone the seed plant has been leveled and cleared off sometime between 2011 and 2012. Some associated buildings still remain, their gates locked up. The former suicide office is some other active business now while next door a crisis center is operating.
     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    One big empty lot now...
     Stories


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     Photo Galleries
    Click to view gallery
    Seed Plant
    Mon, Sep 19th, 2005
    posted by Explorer Zero
    32 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Some minor details
    Fri, Oct 6th, 2006
    posted by Explorer Zero
    18 pictures
    Click to view gallery
    Mill Revisit
    Wed, Sep 8th, 2010
    posted by SilentSearch
    24 pictures
     


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     Web Links

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    Edit this Location
     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 7 / 10
    Coolness 8 / 10
    Content Quality 8 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Steed on 7/7/2016 6:15 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Jul 7 16 at 6:15, Steed validated this location
  • on Jul 3 16 at 0:36, Explorer Zero changed the following: Owner, Street Address, History, Interesting Features, Future Plans, Description, Web Links
  • on Jul 3 16 at 0:31, Explorer Zero updated the main picture
  • on Jul 2 16 at 22:42, Explorer Zero moved this gallery out of this location
  • on Jul 31 14 at 2:43, Mike Dijital validated this location
  • on Jul 31 14 at 2:22, Explorer Zero changed the following: History
  • on Jul 31 14 at 2:21, Explorer Zero changed the following: Interesting Features
  • on Jul 31 14 at 2:19, Explorer Zero updated gallery Suicide Counseling
  • on Jul 31 14 at 2:18, Explorer Zero reordered images in gallery Suicide Counseling
  • on Jul 31 14 at 2:18, Mike Dijital validated this location
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