One of many Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (GTA) elevators in Montana, this one was first observed by the Coast & Geodetic Survey in 1949, doubtless when it was still in daily use. Today long abandoned, the elevator itself isn't yet in terrible condition, but its long annex has quite a sag in its roof - it won't be many years before a heavy snow puts an end to that roof.
Though there is almost no legible lettering left on the elevator, it still bears the stylized "Head of Wheat" icon of the GTA. We noticed, too, that there are no longer any railway tracks to be seen anywhere near. Railroad spur lines covering much of south central Montana were built by the Milwaukee Road and the Great Northern in the late 'teens and early '20s, meaning that this elevator could well be of that vintage.
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1949 (MJT)
DESIGNATION - HILGER G T A FARMERS UN ELEV
PID - SR1126
STATE/COUNTY- MT/FERGUS
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - HILGER (1985)
STATION IS LOCATED IN THE VILLAGE OF HILGER, IT IS THE ONLY
ELEVATOR IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. IT IS A WOODEN STRUCTURE,
64 FEET IN HEIGHT. THE POINT INTERSECTED WAS THE CENTER OF
THE APEX OF THE ROOF.
From the NGS Datasheet