First Ward in Buffalo in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Lake and Rail Elevator
The Industrial Heritage Trail
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015
1. The Lake and Rail Elevator Marker
Image Source: Historic American Engineering Record. Jet Lowe, photographer, 1990.
The Lake and Rail Elevator was developed by International Milling Inc., which established a new milling operation in Buffalo in 1926. Within four years of the construction of the mill, a substantial elevating complex with a storage capacity of over four million bushels had been completed.
The entire complex was designed and built by the Jones Hettelsater Company of Kansas City. This was their only elevator in Buffalo. The site is characterized by a sharp bend in the river where the elevator takes a 90-degree turn.
International Milling Company produced several lines of grain products at the site, and milled flour that was marketed under the name "Robin Hood". During World War II, the company converted surplus wheat into alcohol grits used in making syntheic rubber. The site was sold to ConAgra/Maple Leaf Milling in 1988, which operated the facility until 2005. In 2006, it was purchased by the RiverWright Corporation and rehabilitated. The elevator was sold to Whitebox Commodities in 2008. As of 2012, it is being used as a transfer and storage elevator.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Perot Malting Elevator (here, next to this marker); The Marine "A" Elevator (here, next to this marker); The H-O Oats Elevator (here, next to this marker); The American Elevator (here, next to this marker); The Saskatchewan Pool Elevator (here, next to this marker); The Cargill Superior Elevator (here, next to this marker); The Wheeler / GLF Elevator (here, next to this marker); The Spencer Kellogg Elevator (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.
Also see . . . Lake & Rail Elevator, 120 Childs Street, Buffalo, Erie County, NY. The Historic American Building Survey Record for the Lake & Rail Elevator, as part of the larger 1990-91 effort to survey and document the more than 20 grain elevators in Buffalo. (Submitted on July 22, 2015.)
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015
2. Marker and Companion Image Panels
Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015
3. Marker at Center
Marker faces Fuhrmann Boulevard.
Photographed By Jet Lowe, 1990
4. Left to right: Lake and Rail, Perot, and American (Grain Elevators)
Significance: The grain elevators of Buffalo comprise the most outstanding collection of extant grain elevators in the United States, and collectively represent the variety of construction materials, building forms, and technological innovations that revolutionized the handling of grain in this country.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 359 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. 4. submitted on July 22, 2015.
