Woodward Elevator

For 27 years following the arrival of Stillwater's first railroad, the Union Elevator on the waterfront had been a key part of grain shipping to, from, and through Stillwater. That era ended suddenly when a spectacular fire destroyed the grain elevator on June 21, 1898. Within a month, not just one but two replacements were being developed: one owned by local business leaders, and one developed by the Woodward Elevator Company. The Woodward elevator is the only surviving grain elevator in Stillwater, and today it is more commonly known as the Commander Elevator, a later name.^[1]

By 1904, the elevator was connected by an overhead spout to a flour mill located nearby at the corner of Main and Nelson streets. Minnesota Flour Mill Co. operated the mill and elevator until 1908. For the next two years, Big Diamond Milling Co. operated the facilities. From 1912-15 Dibble Grain and Elevator Co. took them over. In 1919, ownership passed to the Commander Elevator Co., which operated the mill until 1961. In 1961, G.T.A. bought out all the Commander elevators in southern and southwestern Minnesota, including this one. G.T.A. later changed its name to Harvest States Co-Op.^[2]

The grain elevator continued in its original use until around 1986. After that, it sat vacant for a time, and some residents believed it should be demolished. By 1988, a group led by architect Mike McGuire had proposed the elevator's rehabilitation as retail. Those plans were realized in 1993 with the opening of sporting goods retailer P.J. Asch Otterfitters. The store's highlight was a 42 foot indoor climbing wall created within the elevator space. A retail area on the east side of the building was constructed above the large grain scale. Otterfitters closed around 2009.^[3]

In 2013, the building started a third life as a series of restaurants, starting with Tin Bins.^[4]