After the severe storm in the early hours of Monday, June 22, 2015, the Garretson Elevator was severely damaged. Not long after, owners and shareholders of CHS Eastern Farmers decided not to repair or rebuild.
Starting at the tail end of last week the THA Demolition Company began the deconstruction. On Friday they knocked over the addition that had been added in 1962. This past Monday, Oct. 16 they pulled down the main structure which was completed in 1955.
On Monday a crowd of onlookers gathered, and they even temporarily dismissed classes at the school so that the students could watch from the school playground down the block. Though there were a few delays, as BNSF moved a train out of harm’s way and the first attempt failed when a cable’s anchor was torn off the bulldozer pulling the taut line. But the second attempt succeeded after more of the foundation was demolished and when she came down, it happened fast. Cheers for the wrecking crew were raised, but for many farmers and residents, it was a sad moment as an era came to an end.
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