JOHN ZOERB. CARGILL GRAIN ELEVATOR DESTRUCTION IMAGES (La Crosse, Wis.), 2005.  0.2 cubic feet (1 archives boxes)

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. 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 six 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.

Acc. No. 2005-98
Donated by John Zoerb, Sept. 2005.
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, 2005; finding aid written by Christine Stolz, 2005.

Biography

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.

Scope and Content

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.

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 six 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.

Other materials available at the La Crosse Public Library

Clipping File:
     Zoerb, John

Manuscript Collection:
     John Zoerb
     Mississippi River Bridge Construction Photographs
     Mss 95