New Life For An Old Silo

New Life For An Old Silo CROP STORAGE Silos (50) 3-4-25 A "lookout" built on top of an old, unused silo gives an Arkansas farm family a panoramic, 20-mile view of the world around them. About five years ago, Gerald and Lydia Verser, of Eudora, built a new house close to an unused 17 ft. dia. concrete silo, When they learned the cost of tearing down the old silo, they decided to remodel it for storage and built a scenic lookout-rest area at the top. Gerald was satisfied that the silo, despite its age, was strong enough for the new use. "This is tornado country and it seems like a big storm comes through here every year or so. But that old silo has stood there since 1918 and never been hurt," he points out. "We didn't add much weight to the silo itself. The circular wooden stairs, plus the floors of the entire new upper story, are all supported by steel pipe set in concrett and run up the inside of the silo. We poured lots of concrete in the bottom of the first floor which helps hold those pipes up. The Verser's silo is not connected to their home. The first floor is used to store lawn mowers and other summer equipment, and the second and third for seasonal items, such as Christmas decorations. Each of the three levels in the silo are 16 ft. from floor to ceiling. The top level, with windows all the way around, has 8 ft. high walls and is capped with a 12 ft. high, bellshaped roof. Designed by an architect, it was constructed on the ground and lifted into place by a crane. Gerald credits attractiveness of the structure to his wife who, he says, was the "designer, doer and builder of the whole project." The Versers can see for 20 miles from the unique lookout on top of their silo. They frequently climb the silo's 79 steps for the panoramic view of the world around them.

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