This enticing view of Tillotson Construction’s elevator at Murphy, Neb.,–the curved headhouse brightened by floodlights in the yard–was taken by Jerry Jacobs and is used with permission.
Story and photos by Kristen CartPhoenix is well out of the way for a pilot based in Louisville, Ky., and living in the Chicago area. It takes a bit of intentional finagling to get into Phoenix with enough time to visit an elevator. Fortunately, the Mayer-Osborn grain elevator in Tempe sits at the foot of a hill, just a few miles off the end of an active runway at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. A steady stream of airplanes flies directly over the elevator, either coming from, or going into the airport, depending on the wind conditions. After seeing it many times from the air, I arranged for a four hour layover in Phoenix, which was just enough of an opportunity to grab a rental car and go see it.
Manhole covers are embossed with the company name. Each annex bin has a manhole cover.
The straight-up styled elevator with its annex was built in 1951 for the Hayden Flour Mill, a Tempe landmark which had already been in operation for decades. It once proudly displayed the “Hayden Flour Mill” name, painted along the annex side, in lettering that has been painted over at least twice. The white paint has now faded enough for both lettering jobs to show through.
Hayden Flour Mill
My dad, Jerry Osborn, remembers when his father worked the Mayer-Osborn job in Arizona. Dad would have been about seven years old. The job was one of many that took Bill Osborn away from his home in Fremont, Neb.
The Mayer-Osborn elevator and annex nestle at the base of a hill, gracing the neighborhood like a white gemstone in a gleaming setting. The Hayden Flour Mill, which has a strong historical significance to the area, is a rather unremarkable looking building, located at the base of the elevator. The neighborhood has grown up around it with shining highrises, shops and hiking trails, erasing the former industrial setting, and replacing it with an upscale ambiance.
It is fortunate that the mill and elevator add character and personality to the place, and that city planners have recognized their value. Now a park and lawn surround the mill. The mill’s windows have been screened so that tourists can look inside, and historical plaques detail its history. The elaborate plans for the mill have been put off after the market crash in 2008, but fortunately the goal of preservation has not been abandoned. It is good to see one of my grandfather’s elevators safely ensconced in a community that values its presence.
The construction record was written with painstaking attention to detail.
Our friend Linda Laird has asked if the Tillotson Construction Company’s records included any Kansas elevators. The answer is yes, and here’s an example.
In 1948, Tillotson built an elevator of reinforced concrete at Moscow, in the extreme southwestern corner of the Sunflower State. The plan’s basic aspects were as follows: four tanks of 14 feet in diameter, 120 feet in height, and an eight-foot spread. The driveway was was 13 x 17 feet and there were six bins over the drive. Another notation says “Ext. to roof.” This shows up on most other plans and is supplemented by “1/2 grain” or “for grain.” The final item at the head of the plan’s entry in company records notes “13 bins & dust bin.” Here are all the data:
Capacity per Plans (with Pack) 100,000 bushels
Capacity per foot of height 1033 bushels
Reinforced concrete/plans (Total) 1070 cubic yards
Plain concrete (hoppers) 15 cubic yards
Reinforced steel/Plans (includes jack rods) 49.8 tons
Average steel per cubic yard of reinforced concrete 93.0 pounds
Steel & reinforced concrete itemized per plans
Below main slab 2850 lb/25 cu yd
Main slab 12,646 lb/91 cu yd
Drawform walls 68,424 lb/812 cu yd
Work & driveway floor (including columns) 1790 lb/14.5 cu yd
Deep bin bottoms 3740 lb/20.7 cu yd
Overhead bin bottoms 1733 lb/13.7 cu yd
Bin roof (corner) 2284 lb/23.1 cu yd
Scale floor (complete) 100 lb/3.0 cu yd
Cupola walls 3750 lb/40.0 cu yd
Distributor floor 1190 lb/5.0 cu yd
Cupola roof 890 lb/10.0 cu yd
Miscellaneous (boot, leg, head, track sink, steps) 100 lb/12.0 cu yd
Construction details
Tillotson’s Moscow, Kan., elevator, right, was built in 1948. The annex had to come later. Photo by Gary Rich.
Main slab dimensions (Drive length first dimen.) 40 x 45 feet
Main slab area (actual outside on ground) 1712 sqare feet
Weight of reinforced (total) concrete (4000#/cu yd + steel) 2190 tons
Weight of plan concrete (hoppers 4000#/cu yd) 30 tons
Weight hopper fill sand (3000#/cu yd) 260 tons
Weight of grain (at 60# per bushel) 3000 tons
Weight of structural steel & machinery 10 tons
Gross weight loaded 5490 tons
Bearing pressure 3.21 tons per sq ft
Main slab thickness 18 inches
Main slab steel (straight) 1 in diameter at 6 inch o.c.
Tank steel at bottom (round tanks) ⅜ inch diameter at 9 inch o.c.
Lineal feet of drawform walls 382 feet including exterior
Height of drawform walls 120 feet
Pit depth below main slab 11 feet 0 inches
Cupola dimensions (W x L x Ht.) 14 x 36 x 23 feet
Pulley centers 145.5 feet
Number of legs 1
Distributor floor Yes
Track sink Yes
Full basement Yes
Electrical room Yes
Driveway width–clear 12 feet
Dump grate size 2 – 6 x 11 feet
Columns under tanks size 20 inches square
Boot — leg & head Concrete
Machinery Details
Looking down the crowded streets of Moscow at Tillotson’s elevator, far right. Photo by Gary Rich.
Boot pulley 60 x 14 x 2 3/16 inches
Head pulley 60 x 14 x 3 15/16 inches
R.P.M. head pulley 42 rpm
Belt 14 inch 6 ply Calumet
Cups 12 x 6 inch at 8.5 inch o.c. Howell
Head drive 30 horsepower
Theoretical leg capacity (cup manufacturer rating) 66.0 bushels per hour
Actual leg capacity (80 percent of theoretical) 52.8 bushels per hour
Horsepower required for leg (based on above actual capacity plus 15 percent for motor) 23.3 hp
Man lift 2 horsepower Ehr
Load out scale Two 10 bushel Rich
Load out spout 8.25 inch W.C.
Cupola spouting 8.25 inch W.C.
Truck lift 7.5 horsepower Ehr
Dust collector system Fan → Air
Driveway doors Two overhead rolling
Conveyor Not required
Also Built
Office
Truck scale 45 x 10 feet — 50 ton
The details of the scale house at Monument, Kan., above, are almost identical to those at Lodgepole, Neb. Photo by Kristen Cart
Elevator construction was driven by stringent engineering requirements, lending a degree of commonality to the buildings. A few distinguishing details could be noticed, but from a distance you would be hard pressed to determine the builder. When contractors built the accompanying buildings, however, they had free reign to build in a style they could call their own. Often the scale houses would be instantly recognizable.
Lodgepole, Neb. Photo by Kristen Cart
J. H. Tillotson’s designs lent themselves well to the addition of a stylish scale house built alongside the main elevator. In some cases, when visiting an elevator, our access was limited. Then the lines of the scale house would be the only clue that we were looking at a J. H. Tillotson elevator.
Below are a few examples, each adapted to its individual setting, but each showing some distinguishing details that were common to all. Each J. H. Tillotson scale house was built of concrete, with a rectilinear floor plan. Usually they incorporated a protruding bay window, on the side facing the scale, for added visibility. Stairs, usually with steel railings, led to a door to accommodate truckers’ entry into the building. Carefully executed details in the concrete expressed the architect’s personal sense of style.
The scale house at the now demolished elevator at McAllaster, Kan., is a clue to its builder. Photo by Gary Rich
The scale house at Bradshaw, Neb., sports new siding over its concrete walls. Photo by Kristen Cart
The scale house at the Farmers Co-op, Daykin, Neb., shows characteristic corner details. Photo by Kristen Cart
While the builder of the elevators at McAllaster and Bradshaw has not been established with certainty, a fair case can be made that they were J. H. Tillotson designs based on details of the elevators themselves, the driveways, and the scale houses, when compared with known elevators. The scale house at Daykin, Neb., is included here for comparison.
J. H. Tillotson’s designs were visually appealing, with scale houses that contributed to a harmonious whole. When considering a builder, buyers would judge the quality of the elevator by its beauty, among other things. In this regard, J. H. Tillotson, Contractor, was more successful than most.
Daykin, Neb., scale house built by J. H. Tillotson, Contractor.
An often unnoticed feature of every grain elevator is the scale house. The scale house is home to the cooperative site office, and is the place where the elevator conducts its primary business. It is usually an unassuming building where empty grain trucks pull up to be weighed before filling up. The trucks make a second visit when laden with grain, and the difference in weight is tallied in the office. Conversely, when a full grain truck pulls up to deposit its grain, it must return after unloading to determine how much has been loaded into the elevator. Inside the scale house, a small sample of the grain is tested for quality and moisture content.
The scale house in Benton, Kan.
Many scale houses are metal or brick buildings, often unattached to the elevator and some distance away. Most are unremarkable. But some of the old concrete scale houses have unique charm. The scale houses that accompanied J. H. Tillotson elevators were particularly attractive, and are one of the first things to look for when identifying their elevators.
Scale house in Willows, Calif.
Other builders also produced some remarkable scale houses. Elevator building was driven by engineering and economical constraints, but in some cases the scale houses received special attention. In Willows, Calif., I photographed an example that had to take first prize. This dandy building recalls a 1960s drive-in burger joint, complete with car-side speakers and root beer floats. While it is not an example of our grandfathers’ work, it deserves notice.
The simple lines of the back of the scale house at Kanorado, Kan.
Joseph H. Tillotson developed a characteristic style for the scale houses his company built. Those I have visited appeared to be concrete, and many had attractive details. For more typical examples of his work, stay tuned.
Story and photos by Kristen CartOne of the best stops on my elevator tour last October was Kanorado, Kan. It was a fortuitous visit, made in the golden hour of photographic light. We have profiled the elevator before, based upon a visit by Gary Rich while the elevator was operating and open for an impromptu tour. But I wanted to see for myself the elevator my grandfather William Osborn built.
No one was there when we arrived, but I was able to get a good look at all sides of the structure. The straight up, classic lines were unique to J. H. Tillotson elevators.
A view of the integral headhouse with windows to admit light
Other companies built similarly styled elevators, such as the Greenwood, Neb. elevator built by Tillotson of Omaha in 1951. But those differed in shape and concrete detailing. The elevator at Kanorado was an earlier effort, and should be compared with those at Traer, Kan., Goodland, Kan., and Wauneta, Neb., among others.
Late afternoon shadows are cast across the drive-through scale
Another design element that seems to be unique to Joseph H. Tillotson’s Denver-based company is the squat concrete scale house, a deceptively simple building with lovely proportions, as can also be seen with the J. H. Tillotson elevator at Daykin, Neb.
It is good to see another 1940s vintage elevator still doing its job nearly 70 years later. It is a testament to a work ethic that seems quaint in our present day, and a personal investment in quality beyond the next payday. My grandfather would be proud.
This photo from the Tillotson Construction Company archives shows two painters on a flying scaffold at an undetermined elevator.
The following passage is by my Uncle Merle Ahrens, who recalls spending the summer of 1955 with my Uncle Mike Tillotson, painting elevators in Nebraska:
When Michael and I started work, all the concrete pouring was complete and we were given the task of painting the outside of the whole elevator. We painted it using a lime-base whitewash.
We had to crawl over the edge of the top of the tank onto a flying scaffold. The scaffold was held up by a pair of rope block-and-tackles connected to a pair of wood beams that were extended about two feet over the edge of the tank. The wood beams extended about ten feet inboard and were weighed down with sandbags to keep the scaffold from falling. The scaffold was made up of a pair of two-by-twelve boards with a metal frame at each end and two-by-four railings around it. The rope block and tackles were attached to the scaffold on the ground. We had to pull the scaffold up to the top every time for each ten-foot width we painted.
There was an old man on the ground who mixed the paint and pulled it up to us in a five gallon bucket. He had a harder job than we had. All we had to do was brush on the paint and pull the rope to release the half hitch that held up the scaffold and let gravity work to lower it. The “flying” part of flying scaffold was when the wind was blowing. You would fly halfway around the tank.
Merle Ahrens in 2011 at his home in Titusville, Florida.
Every night we would take off our Levi’s and stand them in a corner. There was so much paint on them! Yet one pair lasted all summer.
After a couple of months we finished painting the elevator in Lincoln and went to David City to paint another grain elevator. This time we used a new latex paint. It was very slow-drying and the wind kicked up a lot of dust. The elevator ended up white with grey stripes.
We kept hearing of accidents at other sites. One man [Larry Ryan]was said to have fallen from a plank used to walk between the tops of two tanks. He was wearing new boots and slipped.
Another was killed when roofers removed the sandbags holding the beam for the flying scaffold so they could hot-tar the roof.
A couple more were hurt while riding on a bucket and the clamps holding the cable slipped. The clamps were installed wrong.
I do know for a fact that one worker at Lincoln was hit in the face when a five-gallon bucket with concrete in it fell while he was using a rope and pulley to lift it overhead.
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Uncle Tim Tillotson recalled the challenge of painting while the scaffold flew back and forth in the wind. “When you’d come back you’d get a few licks in with the brush,” he said.
The Roggen, Colo., elevator has the typical Mayer-Osborn stepped-up headhouse.
The stepped-style headhouse on the 1950-vintage elevator at Roggen, Colo., raised our suspicion that Mayer-Osborn Construction built the elevator, and that my grandfather William Osborn had a hand in it. Our hunch proved to be right. A 1950 newspaper account detailed its construction, as well as that of the concurrent project at Byers, Colo. Roggen’s elevator was built on the heels of its twin, the Mayer-Osborn elevator at McCook, Neb., which was completed the year before.
Gary Rich explores creative possibilities at the Roggen elevator.
Last year Gary Rich, contributor to this blog, paid a visit to Roggen. He documented the manhole covers inside the driveway, which bore the company name in raised letters across the top of the steel plates manufactured by Hutchinson Foundry. After seeing his photographs, I was very eager to see the elevator for myself.
Last fall on a visit to Colorado I met with Gary, and we took in Roggen and Byers among other elevators on a photography tour. Roggen is fairly accessible and located just east of Denver. The purpose of our tour was to document the elevators, but also to inject some creativity into the process. The results were very pleasing, especially at Roggen. This is part two of our photo tour.
When I started looking for my grandfather’s elevators, I never suspected it would open the door to the elevator photography and historical research you find in this blog. Best of all, our contributors Ronald Ahrens and Gary Rich have made this project great fun for all of us. I hope you, our readers, get a kick out of it as well, and are inspired to follow your own quests wherever they may lead.
Empty containers frame Roggen’s 1950 elevator.
A documentary photograph of the Byers, Colo. elevator.
In the fall of 2012, Gary Rich, contributor to this blog, treated me to a photo tour of western Colorado elevators. I made a special stop to meet Gary and his wife Sandy. The last few years Gary has specialized in elevator photography, capturing the beauty and spare elegance of grain elevators, identifying their builders as he went. The Byers, Colo., elevator is one of the loveliest.
Gary Rich, camera in hand, looks for a better shot.
Sandy Rich is a very good photographer in her own right, and she has challenged Gary to greater creativity in his compositions. He explained how her inspiration led him away from “documentary” shots and toward more artistic photography. When we stopped at Byers, Colo., we took some of her ideas to heart, and we were very pleased with the results.
Mayer-Osborn construction built the Byers elevator in 1950, as noted in a contemporary newspaper account. My father Jerry Osborn remembers his dad William Osborn working on it.
Using the foreground to frame the subject adds interest to the photograph. Gary shot this composition first as can be seen on his photo site.
Retaining some of the characteristics of the earlier J. H. Tillotson elevators, the Byers elevator recalls those at Traer and Hanover, Kan. The Byers elevator is bigger than the Hanover elevator, and you can see where design adjustments accommodate the greater volume. The windows are very similar to those at Traer. The manhole covers on the exterior at Byers represent an innovation to fulfill local needs.
Since elevator designs continued to improve over time, an elevator design genealogy becomes apparent. The innovations cross company boundaries and are seen by looking at elevators chronologically, especially where the same builders and architects continued working in the business, bringing their ideas to one company after another. This is a chronology we are still trying to understand.
As we strive to understand elevator history, we take pictures. Elevators are worthy of our understanding and preservation for their beauty, not just their utility. Beautiful photos convey that message in a way that words can never express.
The manhole covers on the exterior of the Byers elevator identify Mayer-Osborn as the builder.
I spent a couple days during October 2012 photographing grain elevators in southwestern Kansas. Arriving in tiny Moscow, Kan., I saw a concrete elevator with a curved headhouse and had a hunch it was built by Tillotson Construction Company.
My problem was that it was operated by Archer Daniels Midland. ADM has a strict policy of not allowing anyone on their property. I went inside and had a conservation with the elevator manager. I didn’t have any hope getting into the elevator. He told me that it was built by Chalmers & Borton. I knew this was not the case, since Chalmers & Borton never built an elevator with a curved headhouse. He told me I could take all the photos I wanted. However, it would be across the street from the elevator.
I have wondered since this trip how I would ever find the true builder for this Moscow elevator.
The recently discovered records of Tillotson Construction Company show that Tillotson indeed built this elevator in 1948. Capacity was 100,000 bushels with 14 tanks and a 13-foot-wide center driveway. Six bins were over the driveway.
The Moscow elevator was a very small one for anything made of slip-formed concrete. Tillotson built another relatively small elevator in Rolla, Kan., that had a 140,000-bushel capacity. Most that Tillotson was building in this time frame were of 200,000-bushel capacity or even larger.
The Santa Fe Railroad had a branch line from Dodge City, Kan., to Boise City, Okla. It was about 140 miles in length. Tillotson Construction built elevators in Ensign, Montezuma, Satanta, Moscow, Rolla and Elkhart, Kan.
It’s quite an accomplishment that Tillotson built six elevators along this line.
Our Grandfathers' Grain Elevators 