Tornado was no match for elevator built in 1954
THE LAND, JULY 4, 2014 << www.TheLandOnline.com >>
By RICHARD SIEMERS The Land Correspondent When the wind storm and tornado swept across Minnesota on July 1, 2011, it tore apart pole sheds and left other major damage behind. It also had the nerve to take on an elevator on Gary Schmidt’s Gary Schmidt farm west of Vesta, and while it managed to tear off part of the roof, the storm never really had a chance. This is not just any old elevator, however. It’s a solid 85-foot commercial elevator that started its life in Vesta. Vesta has always been a collection point for grain. When the town was incorporated 1900, three elevators stood there, according to Richard Siemers Schmidt. The “Blue Elevator” burned down in The wood construction of Gary Schmidt’s elevator has easily survived everything Mother Nature has sent its way. 1907. The Bingham or “East” Elevator was torn town in 1974 when the cooperative expanded its “They said they wanted to get rid of both of them,” headed west of Vesta on County Highway 30 for two storage facility, adding two large grain legs and a 60- Schmidt said. “The larger one had uses.” miles and turned off on a gravel road. With a steady ton truck scale. What started as an interest in history moved into a pace, the trip lasted fifteen minutes. The third was called the “Red” Elevator, a 60-foot practical way to have storage on his farm. Because Given the height of the buildings, raising the 18,000 bushel building erected by the Minnesota the Co-op was saving the demolition costs, they gave power lines was not an option. Ahead of the elevaElevator Company. In 1954 the cooperative had the two elevators to Schmidt and even helped with tors, one crew cut the power lines. A second crew foladded the 85-foot 36,000 bushel building. the moving cost. lowed and put the lines back together. Vesta continued to grow as a collection point, and The move took place in January of 2001 and natuThe 1899 elevator was placed on a building site in 2000 Vesta Farmers Elevator (now Meadowlands rally drew onlookers. The mover jacked up the build- owned by Schmidt’s son. It rests on a hillside, Farmers Co-op) constructed a million bushel bin. ings and put wheels under them. His pressure gauge The two remaining wooden elevators had to go and showed the larger building weighed 120 tons. They See ELEVATOR, pg. 6 were slated for demolition. Given their solid wood construction, it would be an expensive project — tearing down, hauling away, and burning. Schmidt said he hated to see the 1899 elevator demolished, given its long history in the area. He approached the company about acquiring it.
5
“Where Farm and Family Meet”