Hawes, J. H., Elevator
Why it's listed
This small wooden country grain elevator stands on 2nd Street in Atlanta, Illinois, one block off old Route 66. Built around 1903 by McIntyre and Wykle for grain dealer John H. Hawes, it measures about 36 by 34 feet, rises 55 feet including its cupola, and rests on a brick foundation. Inside, the original wooden grain leg, rope drive, bins, scale bin and dump logs for tilting high-wheeled wagons survive, along with a rare stairway to the cupola. Changes have been minor: a steel roof replaced the slate, and a pickup truck lift was added in the 1940s. The elevator was the last built in Atlanta until after World War II. It served farmers shipping grain by rail on the Illinois Midland line to Peoria, Decatur and beyond. Its significance rests on its role in local commerce and rail transportation from 1903 to 1941 and its value as a representative studded-wall country elevator. It is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The elevator is significant under Criterion A for commerce and transportation because it handled and shipped grain, a key business in Atlanta, between 1903 and 1941. It is significant under Criterion C for engineering as a representative example of a wooden studded country elevator. It retains original features such as a wooden grain leg, rope drive, dump logs for wagons and an unusual stairway to the cupola.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000571, listed May 17, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2nd St., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Logan County |
| Listed | May 17, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000571 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1903-1940 |
| Architect / builder | McIntyre and Wykle (builder) |
| Architectural style | Other: Wooden grain elevator |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the original slate roof was replaced with steel, and the power house and scale/office house were demolished in the late 1970s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.26086, -89.23387 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000571.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.