May 11, 1965
It's a small town, though there are a few more houses today. It's clear the biggest industry in town is the grain elevators. At one time, elevators for Farmer's Union, General Mills, Almira Grain Growers, and Centennial Mills all competed for the local grain. After a series of purchases and mergers, all the elevators are now run by Highline Grain. There are a few more steel tanks in the row, and 3 of the flathouses are gone.
Of special note is the grain mill on the bottom right, that of the Farmer's Union. It was constructed in 1906 for the Hartline Mill & Elevator Company. Central Washington Grain Growers was formed when when Almira Grain Growers
purchased the General Mills elevator and added the Farmer’s Union Grain
in 1962. In 1975, the old mill was removed and replaced with modern receiving and shipping equipment. It was further upgraded in 1985 with high speed railroad car loading equipment, though it can only hold 6 cars ag a time.
Elsewhere in town, the large building on the upper left of town is the old school. The historic Hartline School building, completed in 1922, is one of the
oldest and best preserved “rural brick schoohouses” in eastern
Washington. No longer used by the school district, it has it's own preservation group.