Driving west on Rt. 66 from Oklahoma City one comes on to this scene. Home to Yukon's Best Flour. I was still eating my bisquits from this flour when I graduated from highschool in 1963.
Directly across the street was the Dobry Mills. Both Mills have been long gone for a long time.
This is the back side of the grain elevators which stored the golden grain until it could be ground into flour. This was our largest employer until the early 60's. The Mill ran three shifts of workers, produced the towns electricity, (electric bills were paid at mill office), and the 5 O'Clock whistle was blown everyday.
All of the buildings containing the flour sifters and baggers, warehouses, and truck and maintenance yards are all a memory. These structures are all that remain.
Note; Please click on photo for a larger view! A little cropping and very little editing were done. Those first rays of the sun are magical!
That last photo is amazing.
ReplyDeleteVery nice pictures and commentary! You are getting really good at adding an interestng story to your pictures.
ReplyDeleteChange on this scale is sad to see. On has to wonder after these grain mills closed where the workers went and where the farmers who sold to these mills went and those who sold the farmers their equipment and on and on... This is how towns die, sad really.
Good story Parker! I know exactly how those workers feels when their factory closed down. As myself after 19 years of service at National Semiconductor Company, they have decided to shutdown our plant in Texas, and I have been out of work for almost 3 months now. That's why you see me posting my photos on this blog in Vancouver time zone. It's very sad to see something like that crumbles around us. I wish I could have one more year with them to get my 20 yrs. bonus for my 400mm lense.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to say Yukon is doing better than it ever has. We have become a bedroom community to Oklahoma City. The town is growing almost to fast. New schools, fire stations, police stations,public facilities, housing additions, a huge new hospital and medical complex, also more shopping centers than you need. The farmers kept farming shipping their crops by rail and trucks. Alot of them also subdivided and sold their land for housing and acreages. Eastern Canadian County sits on a large oil and natural gas field so when the oil boom hit the landholders were first in line again. The workers from the mills were absorbed into the work force of Oklahoma City, some retired and some found jobs in town. Our students and sports teams are known as "Yukon Millers". I'm ready to find me a place in Smalltown,Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteQuynh Le, that must be rough needing one more year for 20 yrs. Best of luck in finding more employment.
Quyhn Le, sorry to hear about the job situation. I know how that can be. I had to close a business I've been running for 19 years this year because of the economy and the lack of work. Hopefully you will find something soon!
ReplyDeleteParker, very nice story! The top shot is fantastic! You caught the light just right on the building and you have a good sky in the background for some extra color. This had to be evening light I'm guessing.
Ron,actually these were taken at sunrise. I was waiting on the very first rays of the sun to strike the grain elevators when that photo was taken. The face of the elevators faces north east. No polarizer was used just that amazing light that morning. Happy you liked the photo and story. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell now we're getting back to me being a lazy photographer. I just assumed it was evening light becuase I try to never get out of bed before the sun comes up! LOL
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