2011 Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places

As small farming communities grow old and their populations wane, the once thriving community centers become desolate and abandoned. But the business centers are not the only places within the community that become abandoned and neglected. Often, as agricultural activities slow due to economic factors or because of population decline, the massive grain elevators that at one time worked full time to help the town prosper are left to crumble. No longer the economic machines they once were, these grain elevators illustrate a very important part of Oklahoma’s rich history of agriculture, but the unusual structures present a challenge for preservationists. Some creative uses have been found, such as the conversion of a grain elevator in Oklahoma City into a rock-climbing facility, but the isolated locales of many elevators do not lend themselves to easy solutions.

Clyde Grain elevator, Clyde: The town of Clyde, once a booming farm town with a railroad crossing, is now nothing more than a tiny sign signifying the location of the long since abandoned railroad (now a barely visible right of way) and a large lone grain elevator. This elevator stands as a stark reminder in the vast open northwest Oklahoma farm lands of the industry that once thrived here.

DAD-CO/F&F Feeds elevator, Dewey: This is another example of a more substantial mill operation that was closed for economic reasons. Originally, most mills and elevators were built next to railroads to make deliveries easier. While it made sense originally, this creates a problem as railroads stop being the major mover of grains; additionally, many of the mills are in places that are difficult to reach by large truck. This mill was closed for operation sometime in the late 1970’s, and has been sitting vacant ever since.