The allotment of grain to bins is shown in this chart inside the Satanta, Kansas, elevator.
Story and photos by Gary Rich
Tillotson Construction Company erected grain elevators of different capacities that could meet the unique demands of Midwestern and Plains farmers’ co-ops. Such was the case in southwestern Kansas.
Satanta, Kansas
Satanta and Rolla are towns located along U.S. Route 56. Satanta, named for the Kiowa chief, is in Haskell County and Rolla is in Morton County. The two towns are 42 miles apart.
As noticed in towns in Colorado, Iowa, and Nebraska, the Satanta elevator is of larger capacity. This elevator is now part of United Prairie Ag.
The elevator in Rolla, however, has a much smaller capacity. This was probably due to the Co-op not having the funds to build one larger. Rolla was constructed around 1954, maybe a little earlier, and is now owned by the Elkhart Co-op Equity Exchange.
While it’s a smaller elevator, there was no stinting on style. Tillotson’s signature curved headhouse graces the top of the structure.
Once again, Tillotson met the demands of the local community and the Co-ops.
The annex to Tillotson’s Rolla elevator was built by Hamilton. We don’t know much about this company.
The other elevator at the site was done by Borton Construction around 1964.
The beautifully curved headhouse distinguishes Tillotson’s smaller elevator in Rolla, Kansas. The annex, center, was built by Hamilton, and the newer elevator, right, by Borton Construction in 1964.
Related articles
- How Tillotson Construction made a good first impression with the Ensign Co-op (ourgrandfathersgrainelevators.com)
- Photo tour reveals the Goodland, Kan., elevator’s symmetries and history (ourgrandfathersgrainelevators.com)
Our Grandfathers' Grain Elevators 
Beautiful photos, Gary!
All this “stuff” is foreign to this city-folk… Are those offices atop those silos??
Mustang,
No, these are not offices up on the top of the elevator. This is where the piping is located. The piping goes to the different bins in the elevator proper. Plus, when an annex is added a belt moves from the elevator to the different bins in the annex.
Kristen has added an article that has some images shown at the top of these elevators. You should check out her photos in this article.
I was reared in farming county. The first concrete elevator that was built in the small Kansas town that I lived, I was up there several times when I was a kid. I realize that city folk can not see what actually happens inside the elevator.
Gary
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