From the Wahoo News, June 24, 2004:
Elevator friends return for another work day
By Lisa Brichacek
Staff Reporter
Father’s Day is a day for family, and Roma and Heath Smith once again spent the day before Father’s Day with 17 new family members.
"They’re not just acquaintances, they are all friends," Heath Smith said about the people who gathered at the old elevator in Ithaca on Saturday.
"They’re almost like family," Roma Smith added.
For a second time, the Ithaca grain elevator family came together to help preserve the historic building. Many of those who started arriving about 8:30 a.m. Saturday had made a similar trip last year, also on the day before Father’s Day.
Paul Hailicka of Grand Island, who organized this year’s day, said there is something special about the 111-year old elevator.
"It’s the love of the old elevator and the fact that there’s only one like it, just one," he said.
The design of the structure is what makes the elevator unique. Professional Elevator Photographer Bruce Selyem of Boseman, Mont. was the one who acquainted Hailicka and last year’s event organizer Mark Saltus of Henderson with the Ithaca icon.
But it was not just the structure itself that had a story to tell.
Kenny Smith bought the elevator in the early 1980s. It was a tie to his ancestors who had worked there and to his love for preserving history. His son, Heath, admits that he did not initially share his dad’s love for the elevator. Since his father’s death three years ago, his thoughts on what is important have changed.
Health and his mom, Roma, wanted to preserve the building that has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. But they found a daunting task.
That’s where Saltus, Hailicka and friends have come into the picture.
"My wife will tell you I’m twisted that way," Saltus laughed. "If anybody needs help, I am going to be there.
"But that’s my philosophy, and I have fun with it."
Saltus said he had a lot more fun this year than last year, because he did not have to organize laborers and supplies.
"It’s been fun," he added.
Although the organizational headaches fell upon Hailicka’s shoulders this year, he too said he didn’t mind the task. Support for the project has remained high.
Lumber, paint, power supply and even an 85’ boom lift were donated.
"It’s all donated supplies and volunteer labor," he said.
Hailicka and his wife, Sue, came with more than supplies and labor this year. They brought a surprise for the Smiths.
"I couldn’t believe it, I still can’t," Roma Smith said. "They came with this surprise all wrapped up in black plastic and duct tape and said ‘open it.’"
Once opened, she found a sign measuring 8 feet long and 1 foot tall. The 10 inch letters on it read "Smithaca."
Earlier this year, Roma Smith sold a building located near the elevator. She had to subdivide the lot in order to do so. Taking her husband’s surname, she blended it with the town to come up with the new name for the subdivision.
"The elevator stands on lot 1 of Smithaca subdivision and the other building is on lot 2 Smithaca," she said.
Hailicka said he and his wife were discussing that and it only seemed fitting for them to donate a sign to place on the elevator.
Putting up the sign was not the only activity on the to do list Saturday. Scheduled work included checking wall sheeting nails; replacing existing roof trim; repairing west swing doors; installing a new lockable southwest walk door; painting outside trim; removing graffiti inside of elevator; and cleaning, sweeping vacuuming the inside of the elevator from top to bottom.
The primary goal of the Smithca Friends (as they know call themselves) is to repair the structure in order to preserve its integrity.
"We’re not here to restore it," Hailicka said. "We’re just here to weatherize. That’s our goal."
It’s a goal that will probably take at least another year to complete.
Hailicka said he’s not sure how many annual workdays there will be. For now, they will take it one year at a time.
"There’s enough work here for a few years yet," he said.
Standing in the shadows of his father’s dream, Heath Smith could only shake his head as he looked at the elevator, the volunteers working on it and the sign that now hangs atop.
"It tingles," he said.
"It obviously says it belongs to the Smith family, but they all have a part in it now. It belongs to them too."