Saturday, March 24, 2012
DEMOLITION DAY - END OF AN ERA
Thanks to a phone call from Casey, we were able to watch the demolition this morning. We had assumed they wouldn't do it until Monday. We watched from 8:30 until 10:30 - very interesting. I have 85 pictures, but sent only a few at various levels of destruction. The firetrucks were there to shoot water when the dust was very heavy. Quite a few spectators were watching.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Thanks, Ada, for the pictures. Sad indeed, for our families, but it probably was becoming an eyesore for the village of Gridley. I worked at "the elevator" all through high school from 1961-65 - all summer long and on Saturdays when Dad ran the business. That was right before Perry and Grandma became partners in the business for a few years before we moved back to LaGrange and I moved on to college. I wish I had a nickel for every time I RAN from the office over to the elevator to dump trucks, scoop corn, etc. Then I'd RUN back (for no particular reason... I just liked to run...and had the energy in those days). During the day, I'd make several trips over to Stewart's Restaurant to buy a fudgesickle for 6-cents or go next door to Ezra Stoller's Feed Mill and get a Pepsi for a nickel (and return the bottle later for two cents). More than once a farmer would ask Dad, "why is Cleve running? Is there an emergency?".
And yes, the 1-man elevator was a thrill to take to the top and look out the big window at the cars -- much like Uncle Lynn and Uncle Perry did many years earlier. A late employee, Uncle Joe, once came up the 1-man elevator and caught me smoking a cigarette up there and he kindly (but surely) let me know the dangers of smoking -- up there or anywhere!
And then there was the "boxing" of train cars, readying them for shipment, the cleaning out the stinky rotten corn in the basement, and running the hoist to dump the trucks and trailers, etc. etc. Uncle Perry describes it all well in his autobiograpy, too. And Uncle Lynn and others have it all etched well in their brains, as well.
The Elevator represents a huge part of our memories and it is sad to see it go....
So interesting to read about your adventures in working at the elevator. I didn't know you worked there that much - guess I was already away from Gridley during that time. I didn't go in the elevator much, but I well remember Stewart's Restuarant (which I think was earlier Kauffmann's?)where I used to get ice cream cones for 5 cents and if I was lucky there would be a coupon for a free cone. I used to spend a lot of time in the office with Dad and remember all the old men in there used to think I was special and make over me. Also remember that Dad calling home sometimes and telling me to ride my bike down so I could take Uncle Joe's book over to him. I loved it because Uncle Joe would give me a nickle for an ice cream cone. It was like a "job" when I was about 7-8 yrs. old.
While on one hand it was sad watching the elevator go down, It didn't really bother me that much. It was very nostalgic to me, but the building was very run down and unsafe - it obviously had served its purpose - and time marches on. According to John McKey, they will probably put a bin up in its place.
Sorry for the spelling and grammatical errors in my posts - this old gal ain't quite what she used to be!!
Thank you, Ada and Jerry, for all your efforts to document the final days of "the elevator." Details of the years gone by are now a memory that will be cherished by all of us who were so directly involved. What memories!
My first view of the razing photos brought a 30-45 seconds lump in my throat. How so many thoughts can flood a mind is indeed mind boggling--overwhelming to say the least.
But, then, considering the many factors involved: we no longer drive Model T's; we no longer farm with horses and mules; buildings (and people) run down and ultimately go "to their long home."
No longer useful and an eyesore to the city of Gridley, "the elevator" had to come down--and it did in short order. And we who remain move forward! I wish all who were so involved could write their thoughts and memories as Cleve has already made a beginning. There is so much to remember. Ready? I'll spearhead (and pay for) the compilation of any data, photos and comments, submitted for the history books. Lord bless you all!
The era of the grain elevator was before my time, but reading all of your memories makes it much more real. Thank you for all the pictures and remarks!
Post a Comment