Preservation Magazine, Fall 2016

Transitions: Saved—Teslow Grain Elevator

photo by: Audrey Hall

In each Transitions section of Preservation magazine, we highlight places of local and national importance that have recently been restored, are currently threatened, have been saved from demolition or neglect, or have been lost. Here's one from Fall 2016.

A landmark wooden grain elevator built in 1906 in Livingston, Montana, was badly damaged when part of its roof was blown off by high winds in January of 2016. The artist who owned the structure didn’t have the resources to fund repairs, and the contractor and developer she subsequently signed the structure over to decided that its preservation wasn’t economically viable. A local grassroots group called Save the Teslow was able to negotiate a purchase agreement with the developer and halt the building’s demolition. As of press time, Save the Teslow (now called Teslow Preservation Group, LLC) had raised more than $80,000—including a grant from the National Trust’s Hart Family Fund—to help with the building’s stabilization. Ideas for a new use for the Teslow include a brewery, museum, or collaborative studio and art space.

Katherine Flynn is a former assistant editor at Preservation magazine. She enjoys coffee, record stores, and uncovering the stories behind historic places.

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