National Register Listing

Farmers' Federation Elevator

Ohio Ave. and 4th St., Cherokee, OK

The Farmers' Co-op Elevator, of Cherokee, Oklahoma, is significant because it symbolizes the importance of wheat in Alfalfa County, insured the financial stability of Cherokee as the county seat, and is an example of advancing technology that used hollow red clay tile and brick as a more durable and "flexible" building material for permanent storage areas, than wood with its highly flammable nature and limited ability to form cylindrical bins that would increased storage capacity. Cherokee was plotted in 1901 and was named the county seat with the coming of statehood in 1907. Though contested for that position by the communities Ingersoll, Jet, and Carman, the people of Alfalfa County voted to keep Cherokee as the county seat because of its central location and more importantly because it was the railroad terminus of the county. Because of this the Farmers Co-op Elevator served as a storage area for farmers throughout the county who had access to the railroads. Because the holding capacity of the elevator increased from 15,000 'bushels to 40,000 bushels in 1921, this elevator gave farmers in the region more incentive to grow wheat because it insured protection for crops once they were harvested and gave bankers more collateral for farming loans thus increasing the financial base of the county seat and establishing wheat as the number one agricultural crop. Though the elevator is presently surrounded by newer ones, it's continued use speaks of its significance in making Cherokee a visible agricultural community.

Local significance of the structure:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.