Pigeon, MI: Nine Slip-Form Silos and Wood Grain Elevator, Feed Mill and Quarry

If you are here because of "Big Four Bridge over Great Miami River in Sidney, OH," then you need to go there.

Wood Elevator: (Satellite)

Nine Silos: (Satellite)

Fertilizer Supply: (Satellite)

Feed Mill: (Satellite)

Quarry: (Satellite)

Pigeon Historical Society posted, cropped
1950 Pigeon Co-op's first silos constructed.
Mike Steele shared

Colin King: Seldom do you see Slip Form pictured outside of corporate lens.

 

Dennis DeBruler commented on Mike's share
Not only do those silos still exist on the left side of this view, but so does a wooden elevator, https://maps.app.goo.gl/h8VdeLxvCXvn4iSj9. But the wooden elevator is different from the one in the photo.

 

Dennis DeBruler commented on Mike's share
This grain elevator has a history of elevator construction, https://maps.app.goo.gl/NdPeivFiLV73KrUX8. In addition to the wooden elevator, it has several generations of slip-form silos including some hexagonal silos, stave silos and big steel bins. I could not find any jump-form silos.

 

Dennis DeBruler commented on Mike's share
In addition to a couple of traditional stave silos, it has this elevator, https://maps.app.goo.gl/Phjoke9z3Mz8W9j39. I can't figure out how this one works structurally.

Once again, fertilizer supply is also an important business for co-op elevators. And the cut of hoppers confirms the rail service for this elevator.

Photo, Oct 2011

The feed mill is new construction. Look at all of the wheels under the trailer on the left. I does that thing go around corners?

Street View, Aug 2024

 

Thomas Reid, Mar 2019

The feed mill has a cute logo.

Zachary Swope, Jul 2018

This is the oldest topo map I could find, so it labels the east/west route as C&O. I included the quarry to the west of town because it is still active, and it probably helped preserve rail service for the grain elevator.

1954/54 Flint Quad @ 250,000

I got a Pere Marquette map to confirm that it used to be the PM.

Map from SpellerWeb via Dennis DeBruler

The GTW route is abandoned but a remnant remains to serve the grain elevator and a bean plant. Note the fall protector in the far background near the left.

Street View, Aug 2024

(Update: this PM branch is now owned by Huron & Eastern. See Bad Axe, MI, which is also on this branch, for more information about this shortline.)