Does anyone know who owns it? It is such a beautiful building, I'm surprised that no one has done anything with it. It would make some really neat apartments!
Lisa
I'm not the one to answer but there are those here who can tell you a lot about that building
It was "robbed" at gunpoint, last month.
I am sure the history would be interesting and you're right Lisa, it is a beautiful building. It amazes me how they were able to build large buildings with the tools they had to use.
Were there ever any brick yards in Elk County? If not, where did they get the brick from for the streets and buildings?
Ms Bear, if my memory is right Moline had a brick yard.............I think that it was north of town towards the cemetary.......I have not been up that way for over 20 years, so don't know if the left-overs are still there or not. I use to help with Mr. Goods horses and think near his place, which was on the east/west road that was about a mile past there.
Bet we get a discussion on this one. I like the remember whens, since I am not a native..like hearing the stories.
The Moline brick works were southwest of town, behind were the Diebold house sat. At least two different capitalizations occurred to purchase equipment and run a rail spur to the site, but it's not known with certainty if any bricks were ever made.
The piles of brick rubble on the south side of Goss Hill (east of the Goods, south of the cemetary) are the remnants of Moline High School, hauled there when it burned.
(Brother Dan will correct me if I'm wrong on any of the above.)
Charles
Brick Plant at Moline
by DDurbin is a thread in the Good Old Days.
Peru had a brick factory.
I have been in both sides of the Howard bank building. It would take about $70.000 to do the renovations it would need to even get it workable to make anything out of it. It is so sad.
It is so sad that it just sits there. I think it could be a real asset to Howard if rehabbed. Maybe I should start saving my pennies!: )
Lisa
The Greenwood Hotel in Eureka was in sad shape too, but look at it now. Can't something like that be done? Not sure if the city or Greenwood County had grants involved or volunteers, but it's an idea.
Maybe the folks who own it just need a little community support. Who wants to spend a lot of money on a building if the town is disinterested?
Lisa
Maybe the Historical Society could help.
Lisa, if there are enough people interested maybe someone can check to see if there are any grants available. It is hard for a community to raise enough funds with help from grants.
Very good idea, Ms Bear! Hey, owners of the old bank building! Are ya listening?
Lisa
Lisa, the circumstances surrounding this old building are rather unusual. It was purchased a few years ago by Tom Devlin (who also owns Flint Oak) because he didn't want to see it fall into further neglect. He put on a new roof on it, and then offered its use to the people of Howard for whatever purpose the city decided upon. In addition, he will supply all the materials if the townspeople provide the labor to restore it. Many ideas have been tossed around, but as you can tell, no consensus was reached as to what to do with the building.
I've been inside long enough to see that it pretty much needs to be gutted and rebuilt from the studs out, including wiring, plumbing, HVAC, ceilings/walls and floors. Also, to be used in a public capacity, the building would require ADA-compliance features (ramps, elevators, wide-stall restrooms, etc.) While Mr. Devlin has made a very generous offer, I personally don't know anyone, especially skilled tradesmen, willing to volunteer the time and labor to bring the building back to its former glory. A few residents have tried to get the ball rolling, but it's going to take a lot more commitment of time and labor from the rest of the town to make this work.
I doubt that it would qualify for grant money, since it's privately owned.
The owner needs to decide what the building should be. The community will never agree on a purpose for the building. It's a case of too many cooks in the kitchen. :) Maybe the building could be made into different sections, and then those sections could be sold to new businesses. Is the building on the National Historical Register? That might qualify it for some grants.
Lisa
I do commend the owners for trying to save this beautiful building!
Quote from: W. Gray on October 23, 2011, 07:21:49 PM
Brick Plant at Moline
by DDurbin is a thread in the Good Old Days.
Peru had a brick factory.
I came across the thread about the Moline Brick Plant:
http://www.cascity.com/howard/forum/index.php/topic,1041.20.html
Quote from: flintauqua on October 29, 2011, 08:01:34 AM
I came across the thread about the Moline Brick Plant:
http://www.cascity.com/howard/forum/index.php/topic,1041.20.html
Charlie, didn't Niotaze have a brick Plant?
I don't know about Niotaze, but Peru did. It's remains are still prominant along 166 east of the town.
I'm doing a little googling on the history of brick making in Kansas, but so far all I've come up with is this link to an El Dorado gentleman's collection of Kansas (and other) bricks:
http://www.ourecho.com/story-517-Landscaping-with-a-Hobby.shtml
Charles
Another link. 273 pictures of Kansas made bricks. No Niotaze, no Moline.
http://www.tlgwindpower.com/tweety/50states/kansasbrick.htm
Does anyone know where the bricks came from that are on the streets of Howard? Or am I thinking of another town? Doesn't Howard have some streets that are brick? I have only been there twice so I am trying to remember and that is hard to do.
Yes, there are some brick roads in Howard. At least part of Randolph is brick and I do believe that I noticed that part of Wabash is also brick. I have no idea from whence they came.
That must have been a great improvement from all the dust or mud that would have been there.