West Liberty, IA: Rock Island Depot, Preserved 1913 Wood Caboose and Oldest Extant Grain Elevator in IA

Depot: (Satellite)

Elevator: (Satellite)

Steven J. Brown posted
Iowa Interstate ES44AC 501 (built 2008) westbound by the Rock Island Depot in West Liberty, Iowa - August 22, 2021.

Roger Kujawa posted seven photos with the comment: "West Liberty, Iowa. Rock island 1913 era caboose."

Dennis DeBruler shared

A preserved 1913 outside-braced wood caboose.

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Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post

They did a nice job of preserving the depot as well.

https://www.google.com/.../data=!3m6!1e1!3m4...

Dennis DeBruler commented on Roger's post

It is on the edge of town because the depot served the north/south RI branch line as well as their mainline that is now owned by IAIS.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer...

Buddy Burton posted
NSPEDM rolls by the former Rock Island depot in West Liberty, IA.
IAIS Iowa City Subdivision
 2014

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1864 Grain Elevator

The small bins implies it is now a feed mill, and the feed trucks confirm it.

Street View, Sep 2021

Wesley Peters posted

Oldest Wooden Elevator in Iowa.

The Evans & Barnes Elevator in West Liberty, IA.

P. R. Evans arrived in West Liberty in 1861 and operated a grocery business for two years before building an elevator in either 1863 or 1864. The elevator operated under the name of Evans & Barnes and later Evans, Childs & Co. The addition on the right was built in 1907.

One of two wooden elevators left from the 1860's in the state.

Photographed on 8/27/2021.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Peters.

Randy Ahrens shared

More evidence that it is an active feed mill. 

Street View, Sep 2021

While looking for another view of the elevator, I noticed that the town has retained a lot of its 19th Century Italinate architecture buildings.

Street View, Sep 2021

Update:

Wesley Peters posted three photos with the comment:

Iowa's Oldest Wooden Grain Elevator, 161 Years of History.

West Liberty, Muscatine County, IA.

Evans & Barnes. Built in 1863 or 1864. 10,000-bushel capacity. Addition (right) built in 1907.

P. R. Evans arrived in West Liberty in 1861 and operated a grocery business for two years before building an elevator in either 1863 or 1864. The elevator operated under the name of Evans & Barnes and later Evans, Childs & Co.

Oldest surviving wooden elevator in Iowa. One of just two wooden elevators remaining from the 1860's (the other is located in Downey).

Photographed on 8/27/2021.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Peters.

Haley R Smith: That thing is one good wind gust away from being a pile of rubble

Brandon Heick: Haley R Smith that one has withstood 3 derechos.

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