| The "Great Northern" Elevator has been an outstanding structure of the Buffalo waterfront since 1897. It's easy to say millions of drivers have passed this iconic structure as they traveled Route 5 to and from the city. Demolition started September 16th, 2022 and the last "Marine Tower" came "crashing down" on April 26th, 2023. The elevator was no more. However, this is not about the history then and now about the elevator, its about how pieces of it will be preserved for the future at the Heritage Discovery Center. |  "(c)2014 Chuck LaChiusa - Great Northern view from Ganson Street. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| In February of 2023, Society members Kevin Walters and his father Kevin Sr. went to view the progress of the demolition. Dan, an employee of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) gave them contact information for the plant engineer, George Siradas. George an employee of nearly 50 years to ADM, Pillsbury and other grain elevators prior, set the wheels in motion with corporate headquarters. He told Kevin he had to go through ADM to initiate the donation process. Kevin contacted Jennifer at ADM corporate headquarters in Iowa, who helped to get things moving slowly for the first few months or so. (March and April) He was forwarded a packet of material via email, detailing the various artifacts that could be donated by ADM which were deemed to be significant items for preservation purposes. Kevin and his Dad had met with George a few more times prior to the completion of the paperwork with Stephen Kocsis, Director of Collections and Curator at the HDC. Things such as the "501c-3 document," other tax documents, mission statement... had to be prepared, of which Stephen submitted to Kevin via email. These were forwarded to George promptly and also on to ADM corporate for review as well. Numerous other calls with corporate finally set the WNYRHS as a recipient for the artifacts! Kevin made a few more trips to the HDC in late April, upon which these documents were finalized in terms of the list which was tentatively complete. It took a few revisions though, as he inquired of other items that we were promised, but omitted and a final revised list was signed on 5/22/23 by Caryl Youngers, President of the WNYRHS. Caryl took two trips down to Ganson Street, one of which was with Stephen to review the extra items selected chosen by Kevin and Stephen. (blueprints and rail wheels). Randy, the "Project Overseer," also helped with the artifact donations. |
 "(c)2004 Chuck LaChiusa - \"H\" style wall anchors on the City Ship Canal side of the elevator before the wall collapse. It is presumed that the letter \"H\" was used to honor \"James Jerome Hill,\" a railroad magnate and creator of the \"Great Northern Railroad\" - CLICK to Enlarge") |
Stephan and Kevin continued to make trips to ADM for some small loads of which Stephen took to the HDC in his pick-up. One time to load some small artifacts such as springs from the marine tower "end of track" bumpers, a few "H" anchor plates and other smaller items. Kevin also took a load in his truck, consisting of numerous wood block and tackles, ropes and pulleys. They placed everything inside the North end of the HDC for safe keeping. Stephen made some nice laminated tags for the items. |
 "(c)2004 Chuck LaChiusa - South \"Marine Tower\" on the City Ship Canal side. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
We were fortunate to obtain parts from the unique "Marine Tower" which stood 145' tall. Kevin and Steve brought conveyor belt "buckets" to the HDC, that scooped the grain from the holds of waiting ships, as well as parts from the huge drive assembly that moved the tower. A long "Leg" would be extended from the tower down into the holds of a ship to remove the grain and when empty, the tower was moved to the next hold. |  "(c)2004 Chuck LaChiusa - Marine tower drive assembly - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2004 Chuck LaChiusa - Rail wheels under one of the \"marine towers.\" - CLICK to Enlarge") |
Finally in early August, "Empire Building Diagnostics, Inc." (Aldo and Nick) brought down the first load of the North marine tower rail wheels (8) and the South marine tower drive assembly to the HDC. Apparently there were issues unloading in Area "A" of the museum and "Rusiniak's Service Inc" from Cheektowaga had to be called to unload with one of their large heavy wreckers. |  "(c)2004 Chuck LaChiusa - Marine tower drive assembly - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Kevin Walters - Employees of \"Empire Building Diagnostics, Inc.,\" load an 18 wheeler from \"Iroquois Trucking\" destined for the HDC. A large pully and gear join one of the \"small\" grain bin sections. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
On September 28th, George and Aldo with help from Empire Building, using their United Rentals "Telehandler" and a Kubota skidsteer, loaded an 18 wheeler with a 50ft flatbed with some of the large remaining artifacts destined for the HDC. Two loads were taken that day with the truck transportation service covered by ADM and provided by "Iroquois Trucking" from Lackawanna. |  "(c)2023 - Kevin Walters - 1st load of large artifacts delivered by Iroquois Trucking Inc., arrives at the HDC. Note the \"tower\" rail wheels in the background delivered in August. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - Winters' Rigging unloads one of the grain bin funnels first. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
The Iroquois Truck driver was "Bob" who did a great job that day as did Tim Churchill from "Winters Rigging" who operated their 10 ton crane truck. Tim was with us in Wilmerding, Pa back in 1983 when we brought our I1sa steam locomotive #4483, to Buffalo. He drove a payloader back then and remembers the steakhouse we ate at well. Thanks also go out to Travis Winters - President and Austin Winters for their help making this happen! |  "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - Grain funnel removed from the flatbed trailer by the 10 ton crane truck. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| Stephan reported that in this load, the museum received, a Tesla/Westinghouse motor, a large Timken Bearing, a "small" grain bin and its funnel shaped bottom, pyramid shaped funnel and one large flywheel. |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - \"Stator\" from one of the large electric motors is lifted. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - \"Rotor\" from the large motor. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - A very large flywheel comes off the flatbed. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - A trapazoidal grain funnel is next in the lineup. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - Finally, the \"small\" grain bin is unloaded. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - WNYRHS president Caryl Youngers gets his trailer unloaded. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Kevin Walters - The days last flatbed load of artifacts leaves ADM. In the background is the last portion of brick wall left of the \"Great Northern.\" - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Stephan Kocsis - This load included another Westinghouse/Tesla electric motor, more belt buckets, a large gear, and a 32 foot long large bin support leg. South Park lift bridge can be seen in the background. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Kevin Walters - Grain bin leg is the last artifact to be unloaded. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
 "(c)2023 - Kevin Walters - Rail wheels, gears and grain bin artifacts. - CLICK to Enlarge") |
| We still have to go back and get a collection of blueprints, including some originals from 1897, the year construction on the GN began. And a few other items remain, like the end of track marine tower bumpers and an electric drive mechanism used to pull boats up to the dock for unloading. These items are due to be available in the Spring of 2024. Of the seven local organizations that were offered the artifacts, only two actually completed all the necessary paperwork (quite a lot) needed to aquire the donations (The WNYRHS and Silo City). A hardy thanks has to go out to the Society members, Stephan Kocsis, Kevin Walters and Caryl Youngers that made this all happen. A tip of the hat also goes to the Winters Rigging Crew and ADM employees George and Randy, who were extremely knowledgeable on the GN history and operational aspects. Thank you all! |
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