Surfside, FL: Champlain Towers Collapsed Jun 24, 2021, killing 98 people

(Satellite, I think Ocean88 Condominium reused the land.)

"The failure probably started about three weeks before the collapse when two connections between garage columns and the pool deck slab failed." The design did not meet building code standards for a margin of safety, so the two initial failures cascaded. [@ 5:00]

The critically low margins against failure existed from the time the building was constructed. The design was severely inadequate, and it was not built according to the design Loads added to the structure during its life further reduced those margins. The triggering cause of the initial failures was probably long-term degradation from corrosion. [@ 7:54]

10:19 video @ 3:42

@ 9:20

I presume the building's design was submitted to the town to get a building permit. I had to do that in Downers Grove, IL, for something as simple as a deck. And I was told that I had to redo the design using larger boards for the deck joists. (I used boards specified by a book that I checked out from the library.) The video did not discuss why the inadequate design was not caught by the permit review. Nor did it discuss why the building issues were not caught by the building inspectors.

Sexton, IA: Wood Grain Elevator

Wood: (Satellite)

Modern: (Satellite)

Wesley Peters posted

Sexton, Kossuth County, IA.

Early owner unknown/Huntting Elevator Co. Headhouse built before 1899? 15,000-bushel capacity. Extensively repaired in 1912 after the west wall collapsed causing the house to lean. Annex built in 1917, T. E. Ibberson Co. 15,000-bushel capacity. Metal cladding added to the annex in 1934 by T. E. Ibberson Co. It was also painted silver during this time. The Federal North Iowa Grain Co. was operating from this complex by 1928.

Photographed on 4/17/2026.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Peters.

David Cenci: Looks like the lean is still there.

The elevator is skunked by a tree on the left in this view. I included the track because I was surprised how much it goes up and down, that is, an uneven grade.

Street View, Jul 2025

I don't know if this is a commercial elevator or a farmer's elevator.

Street View, Jul 2025

The railroad is ICE/Milwaukee. ICE = Iowa, Chicago & Eastern

1972/75 Sexton Quad @ 24,000

Livingston, IL: Pink Elephant Antique Mall on US-66 and American Giants

(Satellite)

US-66 Overview

On Route 66, you are never far from a fudge shop. (Note the blue sign on the right side of this view.)

Street  View

The trailer also used to be pink.

PinkElephantAntiqueMall
The store was started in 2005 using the 1929 high school building.

I think they recently repainted the elephant.

Photo, May 2023

The "gas pump" is a gum ball machine.

ᗰคгรєlค ᗰ., Jul 2025

JIN MOROOKA, Oct 2025

Pam Gaich, Oct 2025

Obviously, this was the former gym.

ᗰคгรєlค ᗰ., Jul 2025

American Giants posted 11 photos with the comment:

The Livingston IL Muffler Man is one of the well known giants on Route 66, greeting thousands of visitors each year outside the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois. He's unique in that he is one of the few original 14ft versions out there that was made by International Fiberglass in the 60s and not my Mark Cline, but his story actually begins in Kentucky.

First spotted in Monticello in the late 1990s, he later was moved to nearby Somerset as "Hank the Muffler Man" before being sold and moved to Illinois around 2006. Few people realize that he was originally displayed inside the Pink Elephant Antique Mall before being restored, repainted, and moved outside. Since 2010, he has stood proudly overlooking Interstate 55, becoming one of the iconic roadside attractions along Route 66.

He's a classic Luke Lombard-style International Fiberglass giant, though his original hard hat disappeared long ago—if he ever had one at all. Despite changing owners over the years, the Pink Elephant remains a must-stop destination for fiberglass giant fans, and the Livingston Muffler Man continues to welcome travelers from around the world. Next time you are on Route 66 in IL check out the giants and their fantastic store!

1
The original 14ft Muffler Man in Livingston, IL

2
At some point Harley Davidson was painted on his shirt.

3
Few people realize that the Muffler Man once stood inside the building when he first arrived.

4
The head after repaint and restoration arriving in the front seat!

5
Another beautiful Illinois day on Route 66.

6
Michael Younkin from Re-Giant and I checking him out a few years ago.

7
Clear evidence he was made in the mid 1960s.

8
An early photograph showing the giant when he stood in Montecello, KY in the 90s.

9
A few years ago the Pink Elephant also had a Uniroyal Gal!

Ron Garber: When the new owners took over the property, what happened to the Uniroyal Gal?

American Giants: Ron Garber The original owner kept her, she was not a part of the deal. She is now at Pirates of the Mississippi.

10
The giant when he stood in Somerset, KY.

11
The Pink Elephant has many fiberglass figures and giants you can check out. This is one of 3 rare beach guys that were made by FAST in Sparta, WI.

Street View, Jun 2024

Chicora, PA: Lost/B&O/BR&P Depot

(Satellite, the fire station has repurposed the land.)

Stanley Short posted
The abandoned Baltimore & Ohio depot at Chicora, PA on Aug. 24, 1979.

Jason Miller: The train still runs past it daily. It doesn’t stop in Chicora anymore. It has a dedicated run to the oil refinery in Petrolia and Karns City. I am guessing that it was demolished around 1990. The fire department owns the property now.

It was on the B&O's Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh. Specifically, on the route between Butler and Mt. Jewett. On this map, Chicora is between Butler and Karns City.

1958 via Dennis DeBruler

That route has become an industrial spur to the two petroleum product plants.

gwrr_bprr via Dennis DeBruler

Brazil, IN: Wood, Jump-Form and Feed Mill Grain Elevators

(Satellite)

The building on the left would be a feed mill because of the leg that supports many small bins.

Street View, Jun 2023

Brian E Jones posted
Schopmeyer Ag Services, Brazil, IN

The Pennsy railroad used to go past this side of the elevator. The railroad must have had an overpass over the street from which this view is taken.

Street View, Aug 2025

The B&O also used to serve this town, but it is also gone.

1950/52 Brazil West and East Quads @ 24,000

Schopmeyer Ag no longer owns this elevator. They now serve the chemical (including fertilizer) aspect of farming in two other towns. I wonder if this elevator is still being operated. While checking out the Rosedale location, I noticed there are a lot of covered bridges in the area.

Valley Stream, NY: Junction Tower: Long Island vs. Long Island

(Satellite)

Street View, Oct 2016

Street View, Oct 2021

Bradford G. Phillips posted

LIRR - Valley tower, Valley Stream, LI - January 1971

View looking east with MU's heading to Far Rockaway.

Corey Siegel: My first job as a signal inspector after taking my practical was 2nd shift valley inspector. I came in earlier that day to take my practical at valley interlocking. I got made, they broke my time, then I covered an open job for valley 2nd shift inspector (signal department).

[I don't understand what it means to get made.]

I was on the clock for 23 minutes when my beeper went off and I got my first trouble call. Signal displaying a clear and no code (automatic speed control) earlier that day when I was getting my practical from two supervisors. They not only gave me the same exact scenario as the actual trouble call, but literally the same exact track circuit.

[It sounds like that circuit has a problem and keeps acting up.]

1947/47 Lynbrook Quad @ 24,000

Milligan, NE: Wood Kassik Mills

(Satellite)

Ashton Blobaum posted, cropped

Kassik Mills Miligan NE 2026

Tin elevator still in use with the wood leg inside along with a new one installed through the roof

Bob Summers: This would be a cribbed construction wood elevator with tin on the exterior to make them less vulnerable to fire, often from embers from the coal fired steam locomotives. We usually call them “iron clad” elevators.

Cribbed construction is where 2x6 planks are laid flat and nailed to the layer below. Takes a lot of lumber.

South of Kassik Milling is the Farmers Cooperative.

Street View, May 2025

The main facility is in the left background and the facility on the right is more grain storage capacity and ag chemicals.

Street View, May 2025

It looks like the co-op has a feed mill.

Street View, May 2025

Actually, the above modern feed mill and a lot of the grain storage is part of Kassik Milling.

Street View, May 2025

There must be some sort of joint agreement between Kassik Milling and Farmers Cooperative.

farmersco-operative

The big picture:

Satellite

The railroad that used to serve this town was the CB&Q.

1969/71 Friend SW and 1961/63 Ohiowa Quads @ 24,000

Milligan was on the route that ran through Fairmont, Tobias and Endicott.

1902