Dassel in Meeker County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
West End Elevator
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, July 16, 2014
1. West End Elevator Marker
Symbolic of agriculture, Dassel's lifeline, the West End Elevator is commonly known to its users as the Dassel Farmers' Elevator. Since its construction in 1885, the area's farmers have brought their corn, oats, wheat, beans, flax, rye, and barley to be stored. From this crossroads the grain has been shipped by rail on its journey to feed the world.
The structure is of "crib construction" — interlaced milled lumber stacked horizontally. Thirteen storage bins in the interior hold a combined capacity of 20,000 bushels. The style is typical of many early small elevators that once dotted the landscape along the railroads.
Yankee settlers and Scandinavian immigrants felled the trees of the Big Woods around Dassel to make the land productive for corn and small grains. The city was platted in 1869 with the arrival of the railroad and was named by James J. Hill for his friend and employee, Bernard Dassel. Today the Dassel region is nationally famous for its seed companies, chicken hatcheries, small industries, and more than 40 recreational lakes.
The West End Elevator is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Erected 1985 by the residents of Dassel.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture
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Location. 45° 4.768′ N, 94° 18.657′ W. Marker is in Dassel, Minnesota, in Meeker County. Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue West, on the right when traveling south on 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dassel MN 55325, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dassel Area Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chief Little Crow (approx. 7.3 miles away); Kingston Veterans Memorial (approx. 8.1 miles away); Daniel A. Cross (approx. 9 miles away); Site of Forest City Stockade (approx. 10.9 miles away); Forest City War Memorial (approx. 11.4 miles away); a different marker also named Chief Little Crow (approx. 13 miles away); Cupola Restoration Project (approx. 13.1 miles away).
Regarding West End Elevator. The 1885 West End Elevator was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as #85000556 on March 14, 1985. Two years later on February 8, 1987, it was
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, July 16, 2014
2. West End Elevator Marker
Additional keywords. Farmers Elevator Company
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, July 16, 2014
3. West End Elevator Marker
Photographed By K. Linzmeier, July 16, 2014
4. Nearby Elevator
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 590 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 24, 2014, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.
