Showing posts with label grainDanger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grainDanger. Show all posts

Thursday, January 29, 2026

1 farmer killed and another severely injured in partially empty soybean grain bin

(Satellite)

Facebook Reel

"One person was killed and another was injured in a grain bin accident in Illinois. First responders were called Monday afternoon to a farm in Putnam County, according to a release from the Hennepin and Granville fire departments. One man was found trapped up to his chest in soybeans. Authorities said the man was rescued using a rescue tube, an auger and a rescue grain vacuum system. He was airlifted to a Peoria hospital, but information about his condition was not available. Rescue crews worked in shifts to remove soybeans. After searching for more than two hours, first responders found the second person dead at the bottom of the grain bin. The victim has not been publicly identified." [Jan 28, 2026, kxii]

This is the fire department release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grain Bin Rescue, 01-26-2026
Granville Illinois
At approximately 2:18pm the Granville Fire Department along with PC EMS were dispatched for a male who had collapsed and was possibly trapped in a Grain Bin partially filled with soybeans at a farm on 950 North Ave, just south of Granville, IL. Initial reports indicated that a subject may or may not have been trapped inside and another subject may be in the bin as well. As crews were en-route, additional information revealed that a subject was inside the bin and there may be another person in the bin and family was attempting to locate the second subject. Due to the additional information relayed prior to units arriving on scene, a Lifeflight helicopter was requested to the scene as well as additional resources from Hennepin Fire, Standard Fire and the MABAS 25 Technical Rescue Team. Upon arrival on scene, through a side access door, a male subject was found to be in the grain bin in soybeans up to his chest. That subject was able to communicate that another subject had been taking soybeans out of the bin and may or may not have gone in and that they went in to attempt to find the person who had not been seen for some time, but had become trapped and was not sure if there was another person in the bin or not. Based on this information additional resources were requested from Princeton Fire, Cedar Point Fire, Oglesby Fire, 10/33 Ambulance, an additional Lifeflight helicopter to the scene as well as the MABAS 25 Chaplain.
As rescue operations continued, the first subject was rescued from the grain bin using a grain bin rescue tube and auger system as well as a rescue grain vacuum system. The first subject was assisted out of the grain bin and to an ambulance where he was evaluated by the Lifeflight crew and then airlifted at approximately 3:52pm to Peoria for further evaluation and treatment. Currently, we have no information on his condition. After the first subject had been cleared from the bin, an assessment was made and the grain vacuum was deployed for a methodical search of the bin. Shortly after the search for the second subject began, subject was located near the bottom of the bin and operations shifted to a recovery effort. Rescue crews worked in shifts to remove the soybeans from the bin and recover the second subject. At approximately 4:46pm, the deceased was located and removed from the bin and turned over to the coroner.
Our sympathies go out to the family of the deceased.
All responding personnel were clear of the scene at 5:44pm and we note that no responding personnel were injured during the rescue and recovery operations. We thank all the responders that came to assist the Granville Hennepin Fire District for their hard work and efforts in the response. Thank you to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the telecommunicators for all their hard work and effort in assisting us with the operation. And thank you as well as to Granville Casey's for donating pizza and The Corner Store in Granville for donating coffee for the responders.
Further investigation of the incident will be conducted by the PC Death Investigator.
[Hennepin Fire Department post]

Friday, November 22, 2019

Fire/((Rosenbaum+C&O)/Calumet Elevator and Norris/Peavey) Grain Elevators on Calumet River

(Satellite, these silos were north of the slip and occupied the land that is now covered with petcoke in the saved image below)

In 1901, Rossenbaum was Calumet Elevator and Norris was Peavey Grain.

The first of five photos of the 1939 fire

John W. Barriger III Flickr
Bob Lalich commented:  Calumet Elevator, later Norris, later ADM - 102nd St. and Calumet River. This elevator replaced a bunch of older elevators that burned in 1939. Note C&WI RS-1 powering the train.

Nick Fry shared
Bob Lalich This elevator was demolished in the early 1980s.

The grain elevator in the left background peaking out from under the iron ore bridge caught my eye.
The sixth photo on idaillinois

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I saved the satellite image because the petcoke piles are now gone. The silos were in the lower-left corner of this excerpt.
Satellite

The Chicago Board of Underwriters of Chicago
 [Multiple elevators were consumed by this fire. The coroner's report ruled "Accidental, caused by spontaneous combustion." I believe accidental, but Chicagology agrees that was a dust explosion. “It was no use,” said Fire Commissioner Michael J. Corrigan. “The heat was so intense at the height of the fire that the water streams were turned Into steam before they even reached the walls.”]
Pat Judge Harvey My parents used to talk about the smell several months later when the grain began to ferment. 
I recently found pictures of this fire in a family album.
Neal Ciciora Those grain elevators by Fallstaff and the ones along the river south of 95th street used to explode and have fires quite often. Usually nobody was hurt in them but sometimes there was a tragedy.
William Bork Didn’t grain elevators at 106th and the river burn also? Mid to late 60’s?
Gloria Scherer Lang William Bork yes it did. During a cold snap. I remember the firemen with ice on them from water spray. Don’t remember the year.
Craig Holmberg Louis Dreyfus (Rock Island) Was just south of 106th st and the river, became some of the Wisconsin Steel property.

Marty Gatton also shared this link
The most spectacular fire involving grain elevators occurred on May 11, 1939 on a slip near 102 nd and the Calumet River. An explosion occurred at the Rosenbaum Elevator A near Commercial Avenue and then spread to Elevators B and C progressing toward the river. The fire then jumped the 100 foot wide slip to the south and ignited the Norris elevators 1 and 2. By the time the fire ended 5 elevators were destroyed and 9 individuals were killed. 20 freight cars were also burned in the 4 million dollar blaze. The Chicago Fire Department had two fireboats at the scene which helped put the fire out relatively quickly. Crowds estimated at 25,000 watched firemen battle the blaze. Fires at the site continued to break out sporadically and the remains of the fire gave off a stench for several months. [SECHS Newsleter referenced by a Rod Sellers comment on a post
Steve Redick posted
From what I can tell this was a large format copy negative of a classic old photo...it shows to be from the Clarence Woodward collection and was shared with us through the courtesy of Bill Friedrich. you should be able to see some great detail..lotsa rigs drafting from the Calumet River....
Here is a link to some relevant info including some newsreel footage
Steve

Marty Gatton shared
 
17:21 video @ 14:44


Michael Mora commented on Marty's share
I recently stumbled upon some interesting vintage photos of Movietone newsreel cameramen filming this massive grain elevator fire. Here's one and link to rest . https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/.../searchterm/grain%20elevator

This aerial photo was taken the year before the fire.
1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP
The following aerial photo excerpts are from the next frame on the film roll. The exposure is a little better.
Dennis DeBruler commented on Nick Fry's share
It appears these concrete silos existed in 1938 and that they were the only thing to survive the fire. The danger of wood grain elevators burning is exactly why the industry learned how to build concrete silos. I include 100th Street along the top and the Chicago Shipbuilding drydocks in the upper-right corner to help correlate this image with today's satellite images.
https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/.../americanchicag...

Dennis DeBruler commented on Nick Fry's share
A closeup of the concrete silos. They do look like what I saw in a 1973 aerial photo. The silos were gone in a 1983 aerial. The 1939 fire explains why all of the other buildings look different.
https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/.../0bwq05006.jpg

Chicagology
Also Rod Sellers comment on a post
For additional information about this and other local grain elevator fires see the article "Grain Elevators" from the July 2019 SECHS Newsletter in the files section of this page. Attached diagram illustrates how fire started in Rosenbaum A, burned east toward the Calumet River destroying Rosenbaum B and C then jumping over Slip No. 2 and burning Norris Elevators 1 and 2.

Bob  Lalich commented on Nick Fry's share
Here is a Life magazine photo of the elevator taken in 1951.

Dennis DeBruler replied to Bob's comment
This photo shows the many tracks north of the elevator in this 1977 topo was used for storage. Are those iron ore cars? They look rather short.
Bob Lalich Dennis DeBruler - the hoppers are coal for Rail To Water.

eBook, p1748, 1920 (Chicago starts at page 1706, Result 3 of the query "calumet river rail to water"

Michael Mora posted
"Repairing a Lake Carrier after a collision," late June/ early July 1905 at dock of then Chicago Ship Building Company, 101st and Calumet River. Detroit Publishing Co. photo, from Maritime History of the Great Lakes, http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/
[Bob Lalich identified the grain elevator in the background as one of the Rosenbaum elevators. Since this photo was taken in 1905, this would have been before the fire.]

Page 49

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Page 50

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Page 51

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This one is where the fire started.
Michael Mora posted
Circa 1895 photo of Calumet Elevator A, 102nd & Calumet River, Dock No. 3. Built 1894.  And package freighter Seneca docked and loading grain for Buffalo (see comment by Fred Bultman below).  Site of dust explosion at 8:50 am on May 11, 1939, followed by massive fire that spread and destroyed four other nearby grain elevators, too. From The Marine Record, Aug. 29, 1895, available on https://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/search
Clarence Totleben: In the 1970's the only elevators left were the Pillsbury on about 103rd and of course the realto at general mills.



Friday, June 1, 2018

Lost/Garvey/Continental/South Chicago Grain Elevator on the Calumet River

(Satellite, it was where those domes are now and there was a railyard on the west side of this land)

A 1973 historic aerial not only shows the silos, but it shows a rather large ship being loaded. The elevator was replaced by the domes we see today by 1988.

Rod Sellers posted
Currently working on a project to scan negatives of photos taken by Daily Calumet photographers in 1974. Can anyone identify the grain elevator in this photo and the location of the buildings in the foreground as well. Thanks.
Tim Fishel Photo probably taken from daily cals rooftop.
Bob Lalich The grain elevator was located at 93rd and the Calumet River. When built in the 50s and into the 60s, it was Continental Grain Co. When it exploded in 1977, it was Garvey.
Dennis DeBruler Looking at a 1973 aerial, I see a good sized ship being loaded. There is also a railroad yard west of the elevator. What was, and is, the railroad that went along that section of the west side of the Calumet River?
Bob Lalich The Rock Island and BRC had tracks that went along the west bank of the river from Rock Island Jct to a connection with the EJ&E at South Works. Both Rock Island and BRC served the elevator. The EJ&E used the tracks for transfer runs to the BRC at Commercial Ave.
Sandra Brink The building by the 92nd Street Bridge on the north side was Nalco Chemical Co. My brother Dick worked there in the mid 60's.

Michael Siola posted

Tony Margis posted
Now this is one big ship!!! 1973
Walter Gedwill 1977 when the elevator exploded and it was destroyed
George Dosen We would empty a lot of the ships at Federal Marine and then they would go to Cargill or Garvey for outbound grain

Jim Prrfan posted
IH The International on the Calumet River. Late 60's.
Jim PRRFan Photos.
[The freighter is carrying iron ore to Wisconsin Steel. The gasometer was south of the Skyway.]

I think Jim took the above photo from the 95th Street Bridge.
Street View, Oct 2022
 
The gasometer is in the lower-left corner and the grain elevator is near the top.
EarthExplorer: Sep 12, 1968 @ 17,491; ARB6830A0040500

Rod Sellers posted
View from the Skyway by Daily Calumet photographer, June 5 1974
[It's the elevator in the background to the left of the ship. The one in the left foreground was the Norris Grain Elevator.]

The elevator is in the background of this photo. Note the blast furnaces of the US Steel South Works in the left background.
Donaldson Kippeant posted via Dennis DeBruler

Attempts to Google more info found other elevators, but not this one.

Update: This land originally had the South Chicago Elevators.

1901 Sanborn Map, Page 45

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1901 Sanborn Map, Page 46

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Michael Mora posted
Circa 1895 photo of early industry along Calumet River just past harbor, by Army Engineers on National Archives website. Mislabeled as Chicago Harbor on website. Find the clues to the correct location. Link here:
This goes with prior post here of some "untitled" photos/location not identified in National Archives, but also of Calumet Harbor and River, from same set. https://www.facebook.com/groups/120664941289363/permalink/2961667173855778
Another very interesting find 
Michael Mora
! I have adjusted the composite photo a bit for clarity. The view is looking south from the 92nd St bridge. The grain elevator was surrounded by lumber yards and planing mills at the time. The bridges on the left edge were the railroad swing bridges over the Calumet River, later replaced by the lift bridges. The original truss bridge at 95th St is seen a little to the right of the left edge.

Digitally Zoomed

Dennis DeBruler commented on Michael's post
The photo must have been taken between 1892 and 1893 because we are clearly looking at the 1,025,000 bushel "D" elevator, which was built in 1892. The 1,400,000 bushel "C" elevator was built in 1893, and the 1,400,00 bushel "C Annex" was built in 1895.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Michael's post
I think the 3-mast schooner is docked in Howard Slip.
The slip by the elevator has been filled in.
 
Michael Mora commented on his post
Here's a vintage photo of South Chicago C, C Annex and D


Rod Sellers commented on his 6/9/2019 post in Southeast Chicago Historical Society
Grain elevator fires were common. SECHS recently received some slides from a major fire at the Continental Grain elevator at 93rd and Harbor Avenue. The fire occurred on January 22, 1957. I attached a photo. I believe the elevator on 106th also caught fire but I haven't located info yet.
The next major grain elevator fire occurred on January 21, 1957 at the Continental Grain elevator at 93rd and the Calumet River. The fire threatened to spread to another Continental elevator across the slip to the north and endangered a grain freighter tied up at the location. Although the structure was destroyed much grain was left exposed to the elements and much of it fermented. As a child I remember drunken seagulls flying around the area after eating the fermented grain.  [SECHS Newsleter 

Dwayne Stegner posted
The new 95th st. Bridge postcard.
[c1910, and it would be the red building on the right in this photo]

Rod Sellers posted
Aerial view of area around 95th Street on the east side of the Calumet River. Street at right of photo is Ewing Avenue. Triangular building at bottom right is Mexican Inn, formerly Triangle Inn near 95th between Avenue L and Ewing Avenue. Calumet River Turning Basin #1 at top right across from grain elevator. Thanks to George Dosen for picture.
Julie Dausey Oziemkowski: One of the old elevators? Irondale?

Dennis DeBruler commented on Jullie's comment
Continental
"The next major grain elevator fire occurred on January 21, 1957 at the Continental Grain elevator at 93rd and the Calumet River. The fire threatened to spread to another Continental elevator across the slip to the north and endangered a grain freighter tied up at the location. Although the structure was destroyed much grain was left exposed to the elements and much of it fermented. As a child I remember drunken seagulls flying around the area after eating the fermented grain."
This would be the elevator that survived. That slip is now filled in. This 1938 aerial shows the wood elevator that burned.
Those look like "salties" (ocean going ships), so this photo is after 1959 when the Seaway opened.

Jim Shortz posted
Unknown location. Somewhere on Mackinaw?
Bob Lalich: 92nd and Harbor looking SSE.

Dennis DeBruler commented on Jim's post
This is the first photo that I've seen that catches part of the South Chicago Elevator. I presume that the foreground was the replacement for the "D" elevator. The background wood elevator, with its smokestack, was the "C" elevator.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7262632,-87.5445363,658m/data=!3m1!1e3
1952: https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/scene/metadata/full/5e83d8e4870f4473/AR1SA0000050013/

Dennis DeBruler commented on Jim's post
Whoops, I lied about not seeing these elevators before. I just didn't look hard enough. Here is what C and D looked like before the fire.
Bob Lalich: Dennis DeBruler - the D elevator in your photo was replaced by the concrete elevator seen on the right in the subject photo. The new elevator was built around 1950 as best I can tell. The C elevator burned down in 1957. The concrete elevator burned in 1977.
Dennis DeBruler: Bob Lalich So I presumed correctly about the replacement for the D elevator. Thanks for the dates.