This cotton press in Oak Grove South Carolina is thought to be the oldest in existence. It was built in 1798 and was first owned by John Bethea III and later owned by Henry Berry. After the cotton was picked it was weighed and spread out to dry in the sun. Then the cotton fiber was separated from the seed by the process known as ginning and the fiber was put into the press to form the bales of cotton. The press was powered by mules or oxen rotating the beam to tighten the press. To preserve the press, in 1948 a Berry descendent moved the press to its present site. |
