End of an era: Moberly’s grain towers set for demolition

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

For nearly seven decades, a pair of grain towers have loomed over Moberly’s downtown skyline, a familiar landmark for anyone driving through the Magic City. By this time next year, those towers are expected to be gone.

City officials plan to demolish the long-vacant towers after securing more than $320,000 in federal grant funding, clearing the way for improved safety and potential future development, though no plans are in place yet for what will replace them.

The City of Moberly was awarded a $321,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development on Jan. 6 to fund the demolition. The city will contribute a local match of $101,375, bringing the total project budget to about $422,375.

For longtime residents like Carley Pollard, who was born and raised in Moberly, the demolition will mark the end of a familiar sight.

“I've always seen those towers growing up. It's never really been used since I lived here, as long as I could remember,” Pollard said. “But it's going to be strange when it finally comes down just because I'm so used to seeing it.”

The towers, built in the late 1950s, were used for grain storage until the 1980s and have sat vacant for decades. According to Public Works Director Tom Sanders, discussions about removing them date back nearly 30 years.

“That has been a point of discussion to have a nice backdrop for the downtown, so there's been on and off discussions over for years, but there really wasn't a path forward as far as how to get those taken care of,” Sanders said.

Sanders said residents have mixed feelings about the towers, which sit near Reed Street at the edge of downtown.

“Most of your residents, I would say, have gotten used to them. It's kind of been a piece of the community down there,” Sanders said. “But there's been also a lot of expression, get rid of them as the backdrop of Reed Street.”

Throughout the years, multiple ideas were explored to repurpose the structures, including storage uses, communication towers, murals and even residential concepts. None proved financially viable.

“Some people have made the comments of living space. It's just they're not laid out like that internally. They're not structured for that,” Sanders said. “I think even the historical groups have said they don't like it because they like to see things saved, but they realize that there's not a financial way to make it viable.” 

ABC 17 News toured the interior of the towers and saw extensive deterioration. Underground pits contain standing water and rusted debris. Doorways were unsecured, with city officials adding that locks were frequently cut. Electrical components are also scattered across floors, stripped over time for scrap.

Sanders described the interior as hazardous.

“This is probably one of the worst areas. The towers themselves are in not good condition,” he said. “We've been up on the floors. It looks like a chicken coop in there with all the levels of manure from the birds and things like that.”

He also pointed to structural issues that pose ongoing risks.

“You see all the holes left in the roof, and now the roof with the concrete and steel is collapsing in several places, which is why we have hard hats on here, because things can drop in here at any time,” Sanders said.

Vandalism has been a persistent problem.

“We have so much trouble with vandalism and breaking in. The locks keep getting cut off,” Sanders said.

With funding secured, the city will begin environmental reviews and put the project out to bid.

“The next step in this is to put out a bid. We'll get the bids back and then we'll make a decision as to what happens next with the tower demolition,” city spokesman Scott McGarvey said.

Sanders said demolition will be complex due to the height of the structures, which stand about 120-to-130 feet tall, but contractors have indicated the work is manageable. Once the towers are removed, the site will likely remain an empty lot for the time being. City officials say there have been no discussions yet about specific redevelopment plans.

“With the level of money that's going to be invested in that, I mean, they probably would look to develop it to some point,” Sanders said. “But there's nothing in the plans at this time.”

Pollard said while it is bittersweet to see the towers go, she hopes whatever comes next benefits downtown.

“It's a little unfortunate to see old buildings that have been a staple here for a long time come down,” she said. “But I hope to see something that is going to help, you know, our, you know, businesses around here a little bit more.”

She said she would like to see future development focus on local businesses.

“I would really like to see maybe another restaurant or just maybe another nice shop that people can go visit and go see,” Pollard said.

Demolition is expected to begin later this year, with completion targeted well before the grant’s performance period ends in December 2028.