Old Elevator Preserved In Indiana

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #5, Page #21

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Restoring century-old grain elevators wasn’t part of Earl’s Exteriors usual work. Owner Travis Earl and his crew build new pole barns and shops. But last year he couldn’t pass up a job no other contractor wanted to tackle.
  Ron Brown wanted to preserve an elevator that has been on his family’s farm for at least three generations. The farm was started by Brown’s great-great-grandfather, John Brown, who fought in the Civil War and bought 10,000 acres of land – much of it wetlands – in the Grand Kankakee Marsh near Lowell, Ind. A good portion of the area (called the Everglades of the North) was drained, and by 1923, 250 miles of the Kankakee River were straightened to create a ditch, leaving fertile land for agriculture.
  In retrospect, perhaps humans shouldn’t have changed nature so drastically, but it’s part of the area’s farming history, as is Brown’s elevator.
  “The farm was unique because it was a big farm in its day. It had 2,000 head of cattle, so they fed a lot of grain,” Brown says. “I don’t know exactly how old the elevator is, but we have a photo of it in the background with a wagon with wooden wheels in front.”
  The elevator was built to handle corn and included a scale to buy grain from other farmers and a mill. Brown quit farming in 1990 and rents out the 1,725 acres that are left of the family farm.
  The idle years took its toll, and when Earl inspected the elevator it was apparent that all exterior wood, windows and doors were rotted. But he didn’t back down from the challenge.
  “To be part of something historical like that, I wanted to do that job,” Earl recalls. “The Brown elevator was known as the best one around.”
  Earl was intrigued how the walls were built by stacking 2 by 10’s and 2 by 8’s on top of each other. He was impressed by the elevator inside that uses counterweights, ropes and pulleys and rises to the top in 20 seconds.
  The exterior steel siding was in fair condition, except for about 10 percent, which Earl replaced.
  “We replaced all the windows, doors, overhang and exterior wood with treated lumber so it won’t rot again,” he explains. “The scale was made with 3-in. oak planking that was rotten, so we replaced it with treated 2 by 12’s.
  “The biggest challenge was the roof,” Earl says. “The tallest roof section was 80 ft. in the air with power lines all around it.”
  His crew used a manlift to resurface the concrete roof with asphalt.
  With a new coat of white paint and “John Brown & Sons Farms” in black paint, Brown says he’s glad he paid to have the old elevator restored instead of paying to have it demolished.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ron Brown, 22404 Harrison St., Lowell, Ind. 46356 (ph 219 808-9876, rlbrown@netnitco.net) or Travis Earl, Earl’s Exteriors, 9243 N. 1000 W., DeMotte, Ind. 46310 (ph 219 987-5490; doubleee26@gmail.com).

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Old Elevator Preserved In Indiana BUILDINGS Miscellaneous Restoring century-old grain elevators wasn’t part of Earl’s Exteriors usual work Owner Travis Earl and his crew build new pole barns and shops But last year he couldn’t pass up a job no other contractor wanted to tackle Ron Brown wanted to preserve an elevator that has been on his family’s farm for at least three generations The farm was started by Brown’s great-great-grandfather John Brown who fought in the Civil War and bought 10 000 acres of land – much of it wetlands – in the Grand Kankakee Marsh near Lowell Ind A good portion of the area called the Everglades of the North was drained and by 1923 250 miles of the Kankakee River were straightened to create a ditch leaving fertile land for agriculture In retrospect perhaps humans shouldn’t have changed nature so drastically but it’s part of the area’s farming history as is Brown’s elevator “The farm was unique because it was a big farm in its day It had 2 000 head of cattle so they fed a lot of grain ” Brown says “I don’t know exactly how old the elevator is but we have a photo of it in the background with a wagon with wooden wheels in front ” The elevator was built to handle corn and included a scale to buy grain from other farmers and a mill Brown quit farming in 1990 and rents out the 1 725 acres that are left of the family farm The idle years took its toll and when Earl inspected the elevator it was apparent that all exterior wood windows and doors were rotted But he didn’t back down from the challenge “To be part of something historical like that I wanted to do that job ” Earl recalls “The Brown elevator was known as the best one around ” Earl was intrigued how the walls were built by stacking 2 by 10’s and 2 by 8’s on top of each other He was impressed by the elevator inside that uses counterweights ropes and pulleys and rises to the top in 20 seconds The exterior steel siding was in fair condition except for about 10 percent which Earl replaced “We replaced all the windows doors overhang and exterior wood with treated lumber so it won’t rot again ” he explains “The scale was made with 3-in oak planking that was rotten so we replaced it with treated 2 by 12’s “The biggest challenge was the roof ” Earl says “The tallest roof section was 80 ft in the air with power lines all around it ” His crew used a manlift to resurface the concrete roof with asphalt With a new coat of white paint and “John Brown & Sons Farms” in black paint Brown says he’s glad he paid to have the old elevator restored instead of paying to have it demolished Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ron Brown 22404 Harrison St Lowell Ind 46356 ph 219 808-9876 rlbrown@netnitco net or Travis Earl Earl’s Exteriors 9243 N 1000 W DeMotte Ind 46310 ph 219 987-5490; doubleee26@gmail com

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