It’s natural to assume the people who built elevators were well-acquainted with those who operated them, especially when they were all employed by companies in Omaha. 

In 1934, how well acquainted were the employees of Van Ness Construction with the men of Crowell Elevator Co.? Was it cozy among them? 

Operating elevators in many towns, Crowell appears to have been a syndicate unto itself, but so far, we have been unable to learn much about them. 

We do know, however, that in 1934 Van Ness did a repair job for Crowell at the tiny Phelps County town of Funk, which is near Holdrege, in south-central Nebraska. 

Reginald Tillotson took photos, and on the back of one he noted, “After repair work, Crowell Elevator Co.” 

That’s the sum of our information to date, but there’s always the hope of additional revelations. 

Looking at the photos, it’s not possible to say what kind of repair work. All we can determine is that there was a modest, metal-clad elevator along the tracks—and not much elese—in Funk.