Livingston bucks trend as grain elevators fall across Montana [View all]

Livingston bucks trend as grain elevators fall across Montana

By JORDON NIEDERMEIER jniedermeier@billingsgazette.com

Updated 22 hrs ago



LARRY MAYER/Gazette Staff

Livingston's Teslow grain elevator, which had been slated for demolition, will continue to stand after a group presented a plan to buy the building at a last-minute meeting Monday night.

Across Montana, small-town skylines are dominated by, or in many cases solely consist of, decades-old grain elevators in various states of disrepair.

Some of the elevators still operate, helping farmers send crops to market. Others held their last grain decades ago, and as they deteriorate they become financial and legal burdens. Elevators in Laurel, Columbus and Wilsall recently were toppled.

Preparation began this week for the demolition of the iconic Teslow Inc. grain elevator in Livingston, but the building has new hope after a grassroots preservation group called a last-minute meeting Monday night.

The group, Save the Teslow, reached a tentative agreement with current owner and local real estate developer Chris Salacinski, who took possession of the building in January. Barclay Rogers, a local lawyer and member of the community-based effort, said the short-notice meeting was well attended and a success by any measure.
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Photos: Montana grain elevators

Bruce Selyem has made a hobby of photographing grain elevators all over the country. He shared these photos of elevators across Montana. View more of his photos, plus calendars and books, on his website, www.grainelevatorphotos.com.



Bruce Selyem