The Old Gin

"Preserving the Past

Making Memories that Last"

Who We Are

"In 1996, twenty years after closing its doors to commerce, George Edward Covington Sr. purchased Enderlin's Cotton Gin, Conway's last operational gin and the site where the last bale of cotton was ginned in Faulkner County. The old gin became warehouse space and with the passage of time slowly deteriorated into one of Conway's biggest eyesores. Interested in preserving historic landmarks, George chose to renovate the building ignoring the urging of well-intended friends to doze the building down. After months of renovation efforts, the Conway Chamber of Commerce honored Mr. Covington by presenting him with "The Best Building Renovation of 1996" in recognition of a job well done!

George and his wife, Janette, breathed new life into the old forgotten building by turning it into a thriving Special Events Center. The exterior facade of the building appears much like it did when it opened its doors as an operational gin. However, the interior of the building has been completely renovated into an elegant facility that can be used for multiple purposes. A warm inviting fireplace at one end of the building and a bride's dressing room on the other, serve as the ideal place for weddings and receptions.

An ornately carved solid oak antique back bar which once graced the dining hall of one of Little Rock's finest restaurants, The Spaghetti Warehouse, is located in the Social Room off of the Main Hall. This cozy room is the perfect place for socializing with friends before or during an event.

There is also a meeting hall at the east end of the building that will accommodate smaller groups of 80-100 people. Perfect for meetings, dinners, showers, and cozy gatherings, this room has it's own intimate fireplace.

The Old Gin History

In 1907, two brothers, Joe and Amos Enderlin, started in the cotton gin business in Conway on the corner of Prairie and Chestunt Streets.  This partnership continued until 1929 when Joe Enderlin and son-n-law Charlie Seiter bought the Otis Moore gin on Markham.  In 1949, the Purina Company replaced the Otis Moore gin with the structure that stands today.  Henry and Paul Enderlin purchased Mr. Seiter's interest in 1953 and renamed it Enderlin Brother's Gin.

Many of the cotton gins in Faulkner County closed in the 1940's as a result of the growing profitability of soybean and cattle, but the Enderlin Brother's Gin continued to remain operational.  After the 1972 cotton crop was ginned, the plant closed and the machinery was sold.  It was at this location on Markham Street that the last bale of cotton in Faulkner County was ginned closing an important era in this area's agricultural history.

The Old Gin still stands today, a reminder of yesterday and the time cotton was king.  The memories of those days remain alive in the hearts and minds of many of the citizens of Faulkner County.