Old Grain Elevators

Dave in GA · Feb 12, 2010

A magazine I read awhile back had a feature on saving and restoring old grain elevators, particularly in the Midwest, which were once a cornerstone of rural American life, just like big old barns. A few small towns have decided to save their elevators from the wrecking ball and preserve them as historical landmarks. Some people have bought decaying grain elevators and have converted them into their homes. I like to see this type of preserving our past, and it goes right along with keeping our antique tractors running.

rrlund · Feb 12, 2010

Ours came a tumbling down a little over a year ago. Shame too,it was all steel. Built in 1959 to replace one that burned. Too many years of mismanagement by various owners til the village ended up owning it and tipped it over,then cut it up for scrap.

omahagreg · Feb 12, 2010

Started my life out near Arena North Dakota. Moved when I was 5, but my Dad tells me the grain elevator was closing. Several brothers farmed, and shared alot of community property already, so they bought the elevator, the RR spur, and an engine. My understanding was they could get the cars, fill them, then run them up the spur where the 'big' boys would take over.

Tom Railsback · Feb 12, 2010

In the thread "IH Tractors on Montana Farm" on the Red Power website, there is a story about one up in Manitoba that was being restored that burned to the ground just last week. They suspect arson for the cause.

BigMarvfromGa · Feb 12, 2010

We have some in our area that were built in the late 30's. They are still standing but only get a small amount of use. One farmer owns them and he has his seeding cleaning business there.

centralilbaler · Feb 12, 2010

I know a community near where i live has saved theirs .
JH Hawes Elevator

Bob Collins · Feb 12, 2010

A few years ago I remember reading a kind of history of grain elevators in the northwest. It stated that there was a crew that went around building a lot of them so many were quite similar. The guys doing the construction considered it a good day's work if each had pounded in 100 pounds of nails! Can't say I'd like to arm wrestle them.

regularguy · Feb 12, 2010

The Great State of Illinois is completely broke, but they have money for this kind of stuff, they can't afford to pay their workers but we have an old elevator. Some day a stray ember will bring that thing down faster than they can blow the whistle.

http://www.illinoisadventuretv.org/index.asp?page=st&site=1161

Anonymous-0 · Feb 12, 2010

That elevator was in Fleming, Saskatchewan, which is not quite in Manitoba just close to it.

Tom Railsback · Feb 12, 2010

I couldn't remember and I was too lazy to go back and look it up.

LeoinMI · Feb 12, 2010

Where I live there are three operating grain elevators within twelve miles of my house. All three are in small farm communities and all three run year round. They have been around as long as I can remember.

kruser · Feb 12, 2010

I've seen that one myself over at Atlanta before the restoration. Used to get together with Wayne Alberts there - bought a Super 55 off of him but haven't run across him for 4-5+ years.

Wonder if that Hawes was related to the New Holland Hawes through the line? Joanne and Lila are my first cousins on the Krusemark side.

1206SWMO · Feb 12, 2010

Heres an old grain elevator at Elmer,Kansas. Kansas is just full of them.I too hate to see them all torn down.

Heres a link to a website with pictures of old Kansas grain elevators.

Old Kansas Grain Elevators

Old Grain Elevators

Dave in GA

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rrlund

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omahagreg

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Tom Railsback

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BigMarvfromGa

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centralilbaler

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Bob Collins

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regularguy

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Anonymous-0

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Tom Railsback

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LeoinMI

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kruser

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1206SWMO

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