Elevator Home Is A Living Museum

2007 - Volume #31, Issue #1, Page #44

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If it could talk, Curtis and Shirley Wik's summer home at Faulkton, S. Dak., would have a lot of stories to tell. The home is a renovated grain elevator that was built in 1900 and sold to Curtis' father John in 1937 for $200.
  The unique five-story home is both attractive and comfortable, all the while displaying numerous examples of its previous life.
  "My dad used this elevator for on-farm grain storage for 23 years and it sat empty for many years before and after that. It's now a place to show off nostalgia and reminders of earlier days," Curtis says. "I've spent the last 30 years slowly renovating and decorating it in my spare time. I used winter months to refinish antique furniture, make artwork and nine stained glass windows so far."
  The elevator's original crib walls and huge ceiling beams are left exposed, as is a section of the wooden grain leg, complete with a window to show the interior buckets and belts.
  A spiral staircase joins the second and third floor. There's room for just about everything, including a sewing room, game room and nostalgic "schoolroom." You never forget you're in a former grain elevator. For instance, a wall in the main bathroom is plexiglass with real corn behind it.
  Family heirlooms and antiques with local history help complete the atmosphere. Wik's grandkids enjoy the fire pole he installed between the first and second floors, as well as an underground play area with an escape tunnel to the outside.
  The third-floor ice cream room is Wik's pride and joy, as it houses an authentic soda fountain from Jones Drug Store in Miller, S. Dak., a root beer barrel, and fan lights powered by a line shaft.
  The fourth floor houses two Lionel train exhibits. The cupola (5th floor) is almost complete.
  "Over the last several years, we've had more than 300 people per year sign our guest book," Shirley points out.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Curtis and Shirley Wik, 15116 349th Ave., Faulkton, S. Dak. 57438 (ph 605 598-4464).

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Elevator Home Is A Living Museum BUILDINGS Houses 31-1-44 If it could talk, Curtis and Shirley Wik's summer home at Faulkton, S. Dak., would have a lot of stories to tell. The home is a renovated grain elevator that was built in 1900 and sold to Curtis' father John in 1937 for $200. The unique five-story home is both attractive and comfortable, all the while displaying numerous examples of its previous life. "My dad used this elevator for on-farm grain storage for 23 years and it sat empty for many years before and after that. It's now a place to show off nostalgia and reminders of earlier days," Curtis says. "I've spent the last 30 years slowly renovating and decorating it in my spare time. I used winter months to refinish antique furniture, make artwork and nine stained glass windows so far." The elevator's original crib walls and huge ceiling beams are left exposed, as is a section of the wooden grain leg, complete with a window to show the interior buckets and belts. A spiral staircase joins the second and third floor. There's room for just about everything, including a sewing room, game room and nostalgic "schoolroom." You never forget you're in a former grain elevator. For instance, a wall in the main bathroom is plexiglass with real corn behind it. Family heirlooms and antiques with local history help complete the atmosphere. Wik's grandkids enjoy the fire pole he installed between the first and second floors, as well as an underground play area with an escape tunnel to the outside. The third-floor ice cream room is Wik's pride and joy, as it houses an authentic soda fountain from Jones Drug Store in Miller, S. Dak., a root beer barrel, and fan lights powered by a line shaft. The fourth floor houses two Lionel train exhibits. The cupola (5th floor) is almost complete. "Over the last several years, we've had more than 300 people per year sign our guest book," Shirley points out. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Curtis and Shirley Wik, 15116 349th Ave., Faulkton, S. Dak. 57438 (ph 605 598-4464).

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