The commander Elevator
This is the Commander Elevator in 1917. Photo credit is Mr. John Runk, courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library. To the left of the elevator is the smokestack from the power generator for the area.
To view this same location in 1975, Click or Tap the photo above.
Commander Elevator
Written by John Buettner
One of the most famous buildings in the Stillwater skyline is the Commander Elevator.
It rises majestically from the cityscape as one of the tallest buildings downtown.
Even with all the photographs and inspiration it gives artists, this building, like many others downtown was nearly demolished.
The elevator, built in 1898 by the Woodward Elevator Company was connected to the flour mill building six years later, located on Main Street and Nelson. An overhead spout connected the buildings, both operated by the Minnesota Flour Mill Company until 1908.
Commander Elevator in the background. View is southeast from Nelson and Main Streets. Photo credit is Mr. John Runk, courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library.
To view this same location at a different time, Click or Tap on the photo above.
View of Commander Elevator and Freight House
toward the south
This photo is dated 1926 and shows the Commander Elevator in the background and The Freight House on the right. The railroad was a busy enterprise in Stillwater at this time. Photo credit is Mr. John Runk, courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library.
This shows an animation of the transition between 1917 and 2018 at this same location. Historical photo is from the John Runk Collection, courtesy of the Stillwater Public Library and the Washington County Historical Society.
