Sunday, February 15, 2026

Youngstown, OH: 1846 Lanterman's Mill at Mill Creek

(Satellite)

Mill Creek joins the Mahoning River in Youngstown.
 
Note the grist stones on the left side of the view.
Street View, Oct 2015

This photo shows the waterfall that creates the head for the mill.
Joe Labbiento, Feb 2023

This is the post that motivated researching this mill. Note the Lanterman Covered Bridge in the right background.
Facebook Reel

Jon Rackson, Apr 2025

The overshot waterwheel is in the basement. I think the first floor has the millstone, the second floor has the sifters, and the third floor is storage.
Philip Lautenschlager, Jun 2021

Water enters the side of the building that has the control gate and flows down the mill race to the top of the waterwheel. The water behind the "Google Maps" label in this photo is on top of the waterwheel.
Cindy Laveck, Oct 2024

Here is another view of the water falling onto the water wheel. Note the vertical drive shaft to the left of the waterwheel.
Tom Turney, Aug 2021

Here is a video of the water driving the wheel.
ofri haimi, Aug 2021

And a video in the sub-basement of the wheel turning.
ofri haimi, Aug 2021

Remember the driveshaft I noted above in Tom's photo? Here we see that a ring gear on the waterwheel drives a bevel gear on the driveshaft.
Billy Pope, Nov 2023

The above photo also shows how the mill used the side of the canyon as one of its walls.
Fatima A, Jun 2022

A closeup of the ring gear.
Randy Bentley, Jul 2023

And then up on the first floor, the vertical drive shaft drives a horizontal shaft. 
Zack Braley, Jul 2025

Does the horizontal shaft in Zack's photo then drive another vertical driveshaft?
Simi, Jay 2022

These are three views of the same gears and belt. I didn't have a bucket list, but I do now. I need to visit this mill to figure out what is driving what.
Kyle Kendzierski, Jul 2017

Dena Ward, Oct 2016

Frank Bosso, Nov 2021

Eventually, something drives the mill stone
Simi, May 2022

And here is a spare set of stones and the crane that is used to replace them.
Andie Morgan, Sep 2023

I presume this is the second floor. I don't know how much of this equipment was native to the mill and how much are museum pieces. For example, I see two different grindstone containers in the background.
Cindy Laveck, Oct 2024

I was surprised to see Route 66 and the San Francisco 49ers logo in this mural.
Drew Saunders, Sep 2023

The variance in river flows continues to fascinate me. This was the lowest flow I found.
M affina, Nov 2022

And when the flow is high, people tend to make a video of it.
Miss Reviewer, Apr 2023

Misty Hightower, Apr 2024

Saturday, February 14, 2026

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."
1

2

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


Friday, February 13, 2026

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