The first owner of the press was Isaac Norfleet, at a plantation about 2.5 mi (4 km) southwest of Tarboro in Edgecombe County. It was originally a cider and wine press.[3][4] Around 1860, the press was converted to a cotton press because of the growing need to process the cotton crop.[3] The press is constructed of yellow pine. It has a large screw that is used to compress the cotton into a wooden form to produce the bale. The supporting frame has four upright posts with braces. There are two long booms. These booms or poles have been called "buzzard wings."[5] Animal hitches were attached to the booms. Mules and oxen were used to rotate the screw. The overall height of the press is 22 ft (7 m).[2][3][4][6]
Pictures of the cotton press at its original location show a rectangular open shed with a steep hip roof. The top of the press extends through this roof. It is covered by a smaller, rectangular hip roof that rotates with the screw.[7]
In 1938, the press was moved to Tarboro's Town Common on Albemarle Street, but its shed was demolished. A small octagonal hip roof was built over the press.[2] Restoration of the cotton press was completed in 1976.[3] The octagonal roof was removed and a pavilion resembling the original shed has been built to protect the cotton press from the elements.[6][8]
Additional photographs of the cotton press were taken for the Historic American Buildings Survey.[9] Other photographs are available.[3][6][8]
There is a similar, older wooden cotton press near Latta, South Carolina.[10] Another antebellum cotton press without the buzzard wings poles is at Magnolia Plantation near Derry, Louisiana. This press has a fixed screw and its base is rotated to compress the cotton.[11][12]
,_Tarboro_(Edgecombe_County,_North_Carolina).jpg)
