Bettendorf, IA: JI Case: Construction Equipment and/or Combine Plant

(Satellite, along the river upstream from the bridge)

I knew International Harvester was big in the Quad Cities. They made tractors in Rock Island and combines in East Moline. Now I have learned that JI Case had a big plant in Bettendorf, IA.

Quad Cities Buildings / Landmarks / History posted

Aerial photograph of Bettendorf 1972.

Quad-City Times.

(Aerial Photo by Harry Boll)

In 1947, Case bought three more factories. These were in Stockton, California; Bettendorf, Iowa and Annis-ton, Alabama. The one in Bettendorf is used to manufacture large combines, corn harvesting equipment and hay balers. [FarmCollector]

Fans of Rock Island Lines posted
The former Bettendorf steel car works a train car manufacturer. A IH/ case plant doubled in size for war production under the war department.

Quad City Images commented on the above post
I'm pretty sure the building at the far east of the property is what's still there now, most recently operated by Alter as essentially an indoor scrapyard, but currently vacant and crumbling. I always thought that the sheds on the west side of the Isle property were the big shops in the foreground of the historic photo, but now I see that they have an entirely different roofline, so I'm not sure where the images line up.

Fans of Rock Island Lines posted

Linda Weatherly: At one time [the implication is during WWII], the largest factory in the world.

Fans of Rock Island Lines: Linda Weatherly yes the building on left was doubled. Ive got a bunch of Sherman's rolling out during WW2?

So both IH and Case had plants in Bettendorf?

Fans of Rock Island Lines commented in Linda's comment

One of nine photos posted by Mark Nyenhuis
In 1952 the JI Case plant in Bettendorf had a major fire. My father who always seemed to have a camera with him took these pictures on that May morning on the way to the plant

One of several photos in CQtimes, Roy Booker

It is obvious from the interior shots in the above referenced collection that the plant made at least dozers and engines. I've seen a headline ("From Combines to Casinos") that implies the plant made combines. Of course, the plant may have made different things at different times. Or, since it is a big plant, it may have made multiple products for different divisions.

If I put together enough articles, I better understand the history. In 1985, when Tenneco bought the IH agriculture assets, it already owned the JI Case assets. Tenenco added the IH assets to its JI Case subsidiary. Tenneco effectively closed the IH Farmall Plant in 1985 because it refused to buy that asset. It did buy the Combine Plant in East Moline, IL. The purchase of the IH's factories in 1985 made the Bettendorf factory surplus and thus its closure in 1986. [upi,  timeline, QConline] I still need to find where JI Case had a plant in Rock Island. ("Rock Island plant became part of Case in 1937, Bettendorf in 1947 and Terre Haute in 1966." [ChicagoTribune])

In 1970, The Case crawlers were moved from Burlington, Iowa to Bettendorf, Iowa. Bettendorf will build rubber-tired tractors. They also build harvesting machinery. Also, products from Rockford will be transferred. Four-wheel-drive loaders will be made at Terre Haute, Indiana. The 1470 will be made in Racine. The Uni-loader and 480ck will go to Burlington. Farm implements will go from Rockford to Bettendorf. [FarmCollector]

1927 Aerial Photo from ILHAP, the case plant is on the left

1937 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

1975 Davenport East and Silvis Quadrangles @ 1:24,000

Piedmont, WV: B&O Depot

(Satellite)

I wonder what the odds are of catching a train in a street view. (in the left background)

Street View, Jun 2023

Unfortunately, the street view didn't do any side streets in this town so I coudn't get a better view.

Street View, Jun 2023

Don O'Brien posted two photos with the comment: "Piedmont WV."

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Western Maryland had a lot of tracks in this area, but this depot is along the B&O tracks.

1922/43 Elk Garden Quad @ 62,500

Piedmont was on the route between Parkersburg and Cumberland.

Rumsey

US-66 (Route 66) Attractions near Devils Elbow, MO

(Satellite information in the text below)

While studying the Devils Elbow Bridge that was on the 1923 route that became part of US-66, I noticed that this segment of US-66 was built in 1942 to bypass the original route. That was long enough ago that the bypass route developed the tourist attractions. This is a "tour" of those attractions from west to east.

Patriotic Mayor Muffler Man (Satellite)

He is holding a golf club along with a golf ball. He is in a Nov 2021 view without the golf club, and he is not in a Jul 2018 view. I'm noticing that communities are gearing up for a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the designation of the US-66 highway.

Street View, Aug 2022

Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store (Satellite)

I've learned that if a place sells fudge, you are probably in a serious tourist trap area. (e.g. Mackinac Island and Metamora, IN (Whitewater Canal).) This shop is part of a strip mall that heavily pushes the Route 66 experience.

Amanda Showalter, Jun 2025

UranusGeneralStore

Since this is their map, they are the star.

Teresa McDermott, Oct 2025

The strip mall has this Circus Sideshow Museum. (Satellite)

Photo, Sep 2019

And if the fudge factory doesn't have enough calories for you, they also have an ice cream store. (Satellite)

Jennifer Payne, May 2025

And next to the ice cream shop is the "World's Largest Belt Buckle." (Satellite)

Tom, Sep 2023

Txtravler, Jul 2024

Even the parking lot has some stuff.

Ali Majaz, Jun 2020

I noticed an iron wheel behind the truck, so I checked out it out. It was a horse-drawn hay rack. And next to that is a manure spreader. I've seen a lot of old farm equipment on display, but this might be the first time I've seen an old manure spreader.

Street View, Jul 2025

Motel (Satellite)

It looks like the original motel on the left has been scrapped down to its slab, and a larger motel has been built.

Street View, Jul 2025

Rustic Treasures (Satellite) and Route 66 Hemp (Satellite)

When I was writing about fudge being a signature of a tourist trap, I was also thinking about candles. Well, here are the candles. And ET is thrown in for good measure on top of the canopy.

Street View, Jul 2025

Piney Beach Cabins (Satellite)

Before motels were developed, individual cabins were used. Although this must have been some sort of resort rather than road-side sleeping accommodations because it is off the beaten path.

Danny Bi, May 2019

River Run Trading Co (Satellite)

Street View, Jul 2025

Erika, Nov 2024

Creighton, PA: and Tarentum, PA: Pittsburgh Plate Glass Works #1 and #2

1883 Works #1: (Satellite, this site has been rebuilt by PPG and some of the later buildings are reused.)

1886 Works #2: (Satellite, west of Bull Creek)

The dates 1883 and 1886 for the two works come from a timeline in glassian.

Works #1:

Photo via glassian

Works #2:

akvalley_122 via akvalley_2
"Pittsburgh Plate Glass Works, No. 2, Tarentum Pennsylvania, circa 1900"

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Workers at the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company plant located in Tarentum, Allegheny County.

Real Bubba: Pittsburgh was Glassburg long before the steel industry.

The above image is one of five that is in BrooklynSteregraphy. This webpage also has a description for each image.

akvalley also has the description for each of the five images.

Jackson-Township historical preservation posted
Workers casting and rolling sheets of plate glass with dimensions of 12 1/2 x 21 feet at the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company plant in Tarentum, Allegheny County in the early 1900s.

Shaws, IL: Lost/CB&Q Depot

(Satellite)

Andy Zukowski posted
Railroad Depot in Shaws Illinois. Postcard Dated 1909
Larry Candilas: MP 21.9 Shabbona & Sterling Sub John Mathesius: Been thru Shaws many times. Curious where this was ?

Dennis DeBruler commented on Larry's comment
I think this is the first town that Andy has found that is so small that it doesn't appear on this 1902 CB&Q map, https://collections.carli.illinois.edu/.../knx_rail/id/298. It is between Amboy and Brooklyn on this map.
Larry Candilas: Probably because it wasn't there yet

Dennis DeBruler commented on John's comment
Because the photo shows the building is along the straight mainline and there is a house track on the other side, I think it is the rectangular smudge in the red outline on this 1939 aerial. https://maps.app.goo.gl/2A8yDTdxtCWsxL5P6

Dennis DeBruler commented on his own comment
An "unvandalized" copy.

Kearny, NJ: US Steel Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock

(Satellite)

USS KIDD Veterans Museum posted two phtos with the comment: "Eighty-one years ago today on October 16, 1942, the keel for our gray lady was laid at Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock in Kearny, New Jersey.  Destroyer Contract 661 became USS KIDD (DD-661), the Pirate of the Pacific, ... and the rest, as they say, is history."

James Torgeson shared with the comment: "US Steel’s Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock builds the destroyer USS Kidd during WW2."

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Jim Mewllenberger commented on the above post
A yard that sadly no longer exists. You can still see the footprint of it, though! The notches at either end were finishing areas after the ships were launched

History Traces posted
Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Kearny, New Jersey (1945) 🇺🇸 This historic aerial photograph captures the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company in Kearny, New Jersey, looking west on May 22, 1945, during the final months of World War II. At its peak, the shipyard was one of the most productive industrial facilities in the United States, playing a critical role in large-scale naval construction. Federal Shipbuilding specialized in the rapid production of destroyers, cruisers, and other surface combatants, demonstrating how industrial efficiency, workforce coordination, and advanced shipbuilding techniques supported national maritime strategy during the mid-20th century. The facility reflects a broader transformation of American manufacturing—where infrastructure investment, engineering innovation, and labor specialization enabled the United States to sustain global naval operations. Shipyards like Kearny became models of high-output industrial planning under extreme time pressure. Today, images like this provide valuable insight into how industrial capacity, logistics management, and large-scale engineering shaped both wartime production and postwar economic growth. 👉 Follow for more in-depth content on naval history, industrial engineering, and strategic maritime infrastructure.

Chicago, IL: Original Garfield "L" Station, the oldest extant station in Chicago, if not the USA

(Satellite, the station is under the tracks)

Street View, Jun 2022

Original Chicago posted two photos with the comment: "Hidden in Washington Park on the South Side is a small Victorian building that is the oldest standing public transit structure in Chicago, and probably in the United States. It was built to connect downtown with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Jackson Park. This original Garfield Green Line ‘L’ station house was closed in 2001 and a replacement built across the street. In 2019, it was renovated, the University of Chicago opened a business accelerator in the space."

Joseph Obrien shared

Richard Fiedler shared

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Chicago, IL: 1881-1960s Rock Island/Pullman Depot and Pullman Roundhouse

Depot: (Satellite, the land is now used by a filling station.)

Roundhouse: (Satellite)

Daniel Bovino posted
Rock Island Railroad depot once located at 111th and Langley Avenue. The building was designed by Solon Beman. It was demolished in the early 1960's. George Pullman had this station built in 1881. Mr. Pullman was in a pique when the ICRR wouldn't play ball with him. George wanted the IC to give his workers extended free passes to and from Chicago. The IC said no, so Mr. Pullman ran a spur line from the Rock Island tracks at 95th Street south to Pullman. It served for a while as an alternate depot. Whether it did much passenger "through" service is unknown. Most out of state rail traffic (from the east) came via the Michigan Central to Kensington whose station was, in the mid '80's at ground level near the present day Kensington Avenue viaduct. For years Kensington station did duty as a Western Union shipping stop as well as occasionally serving as classroom space (while the Pullman School was being built). It also served as a worship space while Solon Beman (George's architect) designed Holy Rosary (Irish) Catholic church and Elim Swedish Lutheran church. Both of these places were west of the tracks. The Pullman Civic organization (then less than a year old) OK'd the demolition of the Rock Island depot...folks weren't elightened yet, and the PCO wanted the world to see that Pullman wasn't only home to deserted old buildings and was concerned about its future. The gas station quickly went up, went through several owners and was given a new faux Pullman look when the latest tenants moved into the spot some years back. Jimmy Fiedler shared Michael Bose: In the 1960s, there seemed to be a concerted effort to demolish any Solon S. Beman designed structures. Not just his, but also Adler & Sullivan's buildings, too. It went too far beyond Daley's "Urban Renewal" to just be that the buildings were old. Most of them were only 60 to 70 years old, about the same age as any buildings are now that replaced the Art Nouveau inspired designs that were wrecked. Beman is my favorite Chicago area architect, and was the architect of choice by both Pullman and the Illinois Central near the turn of the last century. Richard Fiedler shared

This shows the Pullman Railroad and its connection with the Rock Island at 95th Street.

1929/30 Calumet Lake Quad @ 24,000

I noticed the roundhouse just south of 111th Street on this arial. Taking another look at the topo map, we can see it there as well.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Shelly, MN: Recently Lost Wood Grain Elevators

(Satellite)

In 2012, it still had sidings and a fall protector.

Street View, Sep 2012

Roger Bee posted
Here is a nice view of the grain elevators taken on 07-12-2022 at Shelly, Minnesota.  The Burlington Northern Railroad removed the old Great Northern tracks that served the elevator decades ago.  Sadly, on the night of 08-08-2025 lightning stuck and started a fire which destroy all shown here except the tall grain bin.         1514-20326

1963/64 Shelly Quad @ 24,000