Saturday, December 3, 2016

Grain elevators


When we left off on our Thanksgiving trip, we were still a long way and several grain elevators from our destination.

Cows grazed in fields they shared with a rain bird (the sprinkler system behind them).  Of course, all I wanted was a photo of the grain elevator.

This one shared the photo with a water tank.  The first time I saw those new style water tanks, I thought they looked like the world's largest flash light.

You can tell we were passing through truck country.

The fields have all been harvested

and these were the very first bales of hay I've seen all year.

Because much of my state burned this spring, I was glad to see this county used its right of way, which each county is responsible for mowing, to recycle excess grass by creating hay bales.  Wise use of what would otherwise go to waste.

This grain elevator sits in the center of this small town

that only has one stop light.

Now we were truly in the country.

Gravel roads were the norm, as were signs shot up by those eager to try out their weapons.   I'd rather see people shooting at signs than at other people.

It wouldn't be long now.

The fields on the left had been harvested, while those on the right had been planted with possibly winter wheat.

We had arrived!

I could tell we were the last to arrive, though.

I love Scott's parents' beautiful home.

They recently had it resided.  I'll be glad when I can take photos that don't have a radio antenna in the photo.  Ironically, that was the last photo I took that day.

 But let's talk for a moment about grain elevators.  One of the reasons I love them is because I used to live in Hutchinson, KS. and no matter how long I was away, I knew I was home once I saw the grain elevators that could be seen for at least 10 miles on a clear day.

Hutchinson is noted for the largest and longest grain elevator in the world.

Here it is shown from the other side.  This is the side I would see when I was nearly home.


This postcard shows its size.

Imagine my surprise when I did an internet search just to be sure I was right about my beloved grain elevators and found

until 1998, the largest grain elevator in the world was in Haysville, KS.  According to  http://virtualglobetrotting.com/:

This 2,717 feet long cement structure is is listed as the largest grain elevator in the world. In 1998, an explosion at the facility killed seven people, and heavily damaged the structure. The elevator is composed of 246 individual 30 foot by 120 foot tall connected concrete tanks in three parallel rows, all under a single headworks. The strucute had a capacity of over 20 million bushels of wheat, enough to supply all the bread consumed in America in a six week period. The facility is owned by DeBruce Grain, Inc., which was fined $685,000 for the explosion.
Somehow it doesn't have the same dynamic image of the one in Hutchinson.  BTW, Hutchinson has at least six other smaller grain elevators located in other parts of the city. 

I didn't write the quote, so the word should be structure in case you were confused.  I'm not sure what the article meant by "headworks," but they may mean the "headhouse."  Traditional grain elevators are typically designed so the majority of the grain handling equipment such as the conveyors, scales, and cleaners are located inside a building or structure, normally referred to as the headhouse.   Further, you saw that one of the elevators had metal silos attached to the elevator.  Silos normally store grain that has not been dried or cleaned.

Thanks for joining me today as I explored grain elevators and Scott and I reached our destination. 

I was hoping to create a piece of art for either AJJ, TioT, or MM &M for tomorrow.  But I have not felt well all day, and, as weird as it may seem (I seldom need more than 4 or 5 hours sleep), I have slept most of the day.  Since I have two more posts from Thanksgiving weekend, if I'm not feeling better, I'll show Thanksgiving morning in my next post.

16 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

It's good to see the grain elevators, not so many of those over here, and then mostly very small in comparison. But there are hay bales everywhere to use for feeding the horses etc! Glad you had a good trip, and hope you will soon be feeling better! Hugs, Valerie

chrissie said...

Amazing photographs. I wasn't even sure what a grain elevator was until you mentioned them in one of your posts. They are certainly land marks. The roads all look long and straight as well. Thank you for sharing your journey Elizabeth

Have a great day

Love Chrissie xx

CJ Kennedy said...

I'm amazed how flat and spacious things are out your way. You must be able to see for a hundred miles on a clear day. Lots of hills in central Massachusetts where I am. Also while your road will run through one town, that same road, here would go through 4 or 5 towns.

A very, long time ago, I worked for a cement company. The grain elevators look a bit like the cement terminals. Dry, powdered, cement was kept in silos and then loaded into tankers. Like milk tankers only not as clean.

Hope you feel better soon

My name is Erika. said...

I think these grain elevators are cool. We have silos here, but not even that many any more. No grain elevators though, so it gives such a different look. I find it interesting how they are town/local grain elevators. It really shows the community values I think. Of course the farms in Kansas (I think) are much bigger than farms here in NH. Hope you feel better soon, but get some rest and drink lots of fluids. You probably needed all that rest. Hugs-Erika

Meggymay said...

Thank you for sharing the photos of your trip with Scott to his parents home. The photos show just how flat the landscape is where you live. It must be miles between the towns and homes. The silo's all are an amazing size.
Hope you feel a bit better soon.
Yvonne xx

Rita A. said...

I remember the grain elevators on the highway from Great Bend to Dodge City. I think it was near Pawnee Rock that I would watch for the next one to appear and then turn real fast to see if I could still see the one from the town before. I don't remember that I ever could. The towns were so close and the elevators so tall it sure seemed possible.

I did not know that about Hutchinson. Interesting.

Divers and Sundry said...

All those windows in that house would make me very happy :)

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Enough sleep is a definite necessity, and I hope you're back up to your usual self soon.

pearshapedcrafting said...

So sorry to read that you are not feeling well! Hope that the sleeping helps in your recovery! Those grain elevators are quite something and I loved seeing the scenery and Scott's parents house - which is clearly in lovely setting! Take care, Hugs, Chrisx

froebelsternchen said...

First of all : I hope you feel better Elizabeth!
Take care!
What interesting buildings this are - wow!
And the house of Scott's parents is really a beautiful home!
Thank you for showing all the photos- I get a better idea how it looks like in your area!
Thank you!
oxo Susi

Sandy said...

Wonderful pictures and all so interesting. Thank you!
Sandy xx


Vicki Miller said...

Thanks for visiting, elizabeth. We grow a lot of grain here in aus too, but I've never seen anything like these. We do have beautiful painted silos though.

Jeanie said...

These fascinate me. Meanwhile, I hope you fully recover and soon! It's the busy season!

Rita said...

That grain elevator is HUGE!!! We have them up here, of course, but none that humongous!

Dianne said...

What a charming post! love the grain elevators of all shapes and sizes. My hubby and daughter used to play a game in the car, to see who could be the first to spot the blue grain silos, 'Harvestore'...they got extra 'points' if there was an American flag on it! I am guessing that only people from rural areas really understand about the 'feeling of home' created by seeing such things! hugs to you...♥

Halle said...

It really is flat there.... I do love the look of rural America though. The Hutchinson grain elevators are insanely big...I'm shocked! ;) Did you get that one...?

sheila 77 said...

These photographs are wonderful and I loved Scott's parents' house when "we" got there. I especially liked the long empty roads but the grain elevators (which I knew nothing about) were fascinating too, a bit like something out of the X-files, and of a strange beauty.
Hope you are feeling better now.