Block 4 clearly is marked Gin on lots 1&2.  This block is now in what is Charles Fowler's pasture.  Charles is jdfowler's brother.  It was built as the Ben and Delima Whitfill cotton gin @1902.  Later sold to JJFowler and NA Bastien(his son-in-law).  This is the gin that shows up in the background of Mary Zerwer's 1909 photo.  It is also the one I located the photo of in Kentucky. Block 4 has really had no development on it since 1902.  I think the gin foundations are still visible.


"Fowler House" was built in 1912 by Ness and Maggie Bastian (Bruce Fowler's great uncle and aunt).  They were driving through Ennis and saw the Broxon house at 210 W. Belknap, and Maggie said she wanted a house built exactly like it in Alma .  Tommy and Deloryes Probst now live in the home on Belknap.  The Bastian's had four children Dorothy, Clarence, Blanche and Philonise.  

Ness Bastian died in the home in 1917, and Maggie continued to live in the house until 1929 when she moved to Dallas , and the house was sold to Arlesia and John Fowler (Bruce Fowler's grandparents).