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John Zoerb Photographs of the Cargill Grain Elevator Destruction (La Crosse, Wisconsin)

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 096

Scope and Contents

The images in this collection document the demolition of the Cargill grain elevator on the east side of Front Street in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Beginning on July 18, 2005, nine grain silos were demolished to make room for the headquarters of Logistics Health, Inc. Two additional smaller silos on the west side of Front Street were scheduled for demolition in late 2005, but this did not occur until March 2006.

Cargill, Inc. is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of the silos was marked “Agri Grain Marketing,” which was a joint venture of seventeen years between AGRI Industries of Des Moines, Iowa, and Cargill, Inc., and was terminated on March 1, 2004. Ownership of the elevators reverted back to Cargill, Inc.

The images are on nine cds in jpeg format, averaging 2.8 M of space each. There is not a complete set of prints to correspond with images on the cds, although a few photographs have been printed as examples.

Dates

  • 2005-2006

Creator

Access to Materials

Original CDs may not be accessed; use copies must be created prior to patron viewing.

Biographical Note

John Zoerb, a La Crosse resident, is the son of John “Hans” Zoerb and Isabella (Berck) Zoerb. As a horticulturalist, Zoerb worked for fifty-three years at La Crosse Floral and served as president of the company. He was also known as “Dr. Green Thumb” because of his appearances on WLCX’s radio show “Party Line.” Zoerb also served as a resource for La Crosse County’s Poison Control Center. He is a well-known local photographer, and has been a member of the La Crosse Camera Club since 1946. Zoerb has taken photographs of Oktoberfest and Riverfest for the past thirty years.

Extent

0.2 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

John Zoerb, a La Crosse, Wis. resident, worked as a horticulturalist and president of La Crosse Floral. He is a well-known local photographer, and has been a member of the La Crosse Camera Club since 1946.

Beginning July 2005, Zoerb took photographs of the demolition of the grain elevator owned by Cargill, Inc., on Front Street in La Crosse. The western silos came down in March 2006. One of the silos was marked Agri Grain Marketing, which was a joint venture between AGRI Industries and Cargill, Inc., but by March 1, 2004, ownership had reverted back to Cargill, Inc.

The images are on nine cds in jpeg format, averaging 2.8 M of space each. There is not a complete set of prints to correspond with images on the cds, although a few photographs have been printed as examples.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession nos. 2005.098, 2006.045) Donated by John Zoerb, Sept. 2005; May 2006

Related Materials

Missing Title

(Clipping file)
Biography--Zoerb, John
(MSS 095)
John Zoerb Photographs of Mississippi River Bridge Construction Project (La Crosse, Wisconsin)

Physical Description

1 archives box

Processing Information

Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, 2005; finding aid written by Christine Stolz, 2005; updated May 2006.

Creator

Title
Guide to the John Zoerb Photographs of the Cargill Grain Elevator Destruction (La Crosse, Wisconsin), 2005-2006
Status
Completed
Author
Christine Stolz
Date
2005-2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the La Crosse Public Library Archives Repository

Contact:
800 Main St.
La Crosse Wisconsin 54601
(608) 789-7136