elkport revisited

Remember that little bank building that I blogged about last winter, from the once-town of Elkport, IA? I went back there this weekend to see if it was still standing... and it's not. In the above photo, it used to sit between the powerline post and the tree at the right.

The far building that is also missing from the left picture was the old high school. That building was in bad shape -- the roof had caved in -- and they were already starting to demolish it by the time I left in April. I assume that the bank was then next.

Shortly after I had posted the original photos back in February, I was informed (thanks, Jim!) that the bank building was actually used as the town Post Office for many years (I'm unsure if it was still the Post Office at the time of the flood in 2004, but I did see some letter boxes through the window, so it's possible).

The entire flood area is now a community park and campground. I don't know what kind of structural damage the bank building sustained (the outside walls looked pretty stable to my untrained eye), but it's unfortunate that it wasn't able to be saved and incorporated into the park.

The church is still standing, and looks in great shape.

elkport kirche

Another of the few remaining (empty) buildings from the once-town Elkport.

The big handwritten sign posted to the right of the door reads: "STOP! Church NOT Being Torn Down. STAY OUT. NO Trespassing"

[ update Oct 2009 ]

elkport, iowa

The little town of Elkport was demolished in 2006, after major flooding in 2004 resulted in a federal buyout. This bank is one of the few buildings still left standing. I'm not sure what's to become of it, but I think it's only still standing because it was on the state's historical buildings list.

No, I didn't go inside. But I did peek through the window.

[ update Oct 2009 ]