Penfield Elevators, West Elevator, Front Street, Penfield, Champaign County, IL

1986 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Honorable Mention
Significance: The West Elevator was constructed shortly after the arrival of the Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railway in 1878, which eventually became part of the Illinois Central Railroad system. The bins were constructed of 2x4 and 2x6 inch lumber laid flat and nailed horizontally (crib construction) and rested on a stone foundation. Wood siding originally sheathed this first elevator, though later it was covered with sheet metal. More recently, the leg was removed and the interior bins were altered to convert the elevator into a feed mill. A shed with concrete abutments was attached to the south side. In November of 1984, shortly after the structure had been recorded, it was destroyed in a fire demonstration project.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-146
Survey number: HABS IL-1133-A
Building/structure dates: ca. 1878 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1984 Demolished