Main Street was growing longer. Now a new livery stable was on Pa’s side of it, across from the bank. A new grain elevator stood tall beyond the far end of the street, across from the railroad tracks. -Little Town on the Prairie, Chapter 11
A grain elevator is a mechanical contrivance for lifting grain to an upper floor; also, a building containing one or more elevators. Prior to the invention of the elevator in 1842, grain was handled in bags rather than in bulk. The Ingallses and Wilders would have been familiar with the elevator (tallest wooden building) shown at left in the photo of De Smet above. The elevator is no longer standing.
