The Hawkeye Center
Montana | Posted: 08/02/2004In March of 2003 the owner of the only grain elevator in Red Lodge, Montana, decided to demolish the building in favor of new commercial construction on that property. Concerned citizens decided that it would be a shame to lose such a landmark, so they contacted Bruce Selyem president of "The Country Grain Elevator Historical Society". Bruce photographs and archives grain elevators throughout Montana and the Midwest. He helped negotiate a reprieve from demolition, so there would be time to figure out a way to save it. The local newspaper provided the way to connect the old elevator with a new owner, Katherine Loo. Kathy has been a long time resident of the community, and did not want to see the community landmark at the highly visible community entrance disappear.
Kathy purchased the building in April of 2003, and started forming a team. She hired Jeff DeVries as a contractor, his experience with working on renovations and structural difficulties and his willingness to take on a rewarding challenge made him a natural project manager. Jeff hired Chris Stonebraker as a lead construction person. Chris has a strong background in design, and is highly interested in interior historic styles and finishes. The team was completed by calling Susan Hovde; a local architect who has taken on several historic renovations within the community.
The team had several challenges from the start. Brainstorming took place, to figure out how to give this important community structure new life, with some economic viability.
The main structure was built in 1908 partially burned in 1916, reconstructed, and in operation as a grain elevator until the rail tracks were removed (circa 1985). It contained other businesses and sat empty for the last several years. The grain elevator is quickly becoming a vanishing American prairie icon, with three of the five in Carbon County disappearing in the last ten years. Even though it would not be used as a grain elevator, the team felt it was important to reflect the agricultural history that it represented. Care was taken to use as much of the building as was structurally possible. Where portions needed to be removed and replaced, the existing building lines were followed. There was significant cleanup required. Lots of grain, pests, and odors needed to be removed. Some areas needed to be replaced entirely in order to meet new structural and safety codes. One corner was filled in, so that there would be more rental space. The height of the structure alone, was a difficulty for a small rural community. There is not equipment to work on such a tall structure readily available.
The final results are exciting. The building has found new life as a group of offices. The central hallway has become a natural exhibit space for history of the building and grain elevators in general. Interpretive plaques educate those who enter, on the life of the building. Old equipment has been included in displays, where possible. The old grain cleaner sits outside and serves as the base for the tenant signs. Once inside, the visitor is greeted by the scales that were present in the working elevator. One of the grain cribs has been opened to the public, with the old man lift and other equipment gracing that space. The crib walls have been exposed, and fireproofed, so the new tenants can admire the vertical laid 2x6 material that makes up the main cribs. Existing levers and chutes have been left on the ceiling with lighting fixtures tucked in to some of the chutes. The final results were cost competitive with demolition and construction of a new office building. But, because the community acted the way it did, renovation of the existing elevator was much more satisfying.
The building was completed in late April of 2004, and landscaping will take place this summer. Plans are to provide some "test" plots of grains around the building to continue the education of the public on the agricultural importance of the building. Sitting next to the largest city park, it has gone from an eyesore and liability to a landmark with a facelift.
Historically grain elevators acted as the community "watercooler". The new office spaces and public displays will give new life to the old watering hole. Barbara Setyem, treasurer for the Country Grain Elevator Historical Society, has stated it best when she wrote:
"The Country Grain Elevator was an integral part of rural communities where residents lived, worshiped, played and worked together. Often it was the town`s link to the outside world. As it prospered it fostered new businesses including banks, churches, groceries, hardware stores and other trades."
For more information contact:
Susan J. Hovde
P.O. Box 1514
Red Lodge, Montana 59068
406/446-3160
shovde@juno.com
