Happy in Swisher County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Harman-Toles Elevator

(¼ mile west)

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015

1. Harman-Toles Elevator Marker

Inscription. Holland E. Toles (1894-1941) opened a grain elevator in this area in 1926, and was joined by Vernon Harman in 1938. After Toles' death, Harman formed a new partnership with John F. and Holl Ed Toles. World War II, increased irrigation, and a federal grain program created a need for larger storage facilities. On March 1, 1945, construction was begun on this six-unit concrete elevator. Labor was provided by the U.S. government, utilizing 50 Italian prisoners of war from a camp near Hereford, under Geneva Convention provisions. The project was completed on July 10, 1945.

Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2383.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1945.

Location. 34° 44.892′ N, 101° 51.219′ W. Marker is in Happy, Texas, in Swisher County. It is on U.S. 87 south of West Happy West Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is attached to a small windmill on the west side of the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Happy TX 79042, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is on the Texas Panhandle.

It is also on the American Great Plains

and specifically on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Old Happy (here, next to this marker); First United Methodist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Happy Public Schools (approx. half a mile away); Happy Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Dreamland Cemetery (approx. 13.9 miles away); C. Stuart Johnston (approx. 13.9 miles away); Quanah Parker Trail (approx. 14.8 miles away).

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015

2. Harman-Toles Elevator Marker

Harman-Toles Elevator image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015

3. Harman-Toles Elevator

View of Marker from US 87 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, July 15, 2017

4. View of Marker from US 87

The marker is attached to the small windmill.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 979 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on May 18, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 8, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on July 24, 2017, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.