2003 Year in Review

Morrison's Very Own Easter Cross

This is a picture of Paul Brondyke in front of the grain elevator.

Have you ever wondered what the story is concerning the lighted Easter Cross on top of the Morison Grain Elevator? We interviewed Paul Brondyke of Morrison about the history of the cross and he graciously recalled his memory of how it came to be placed on top of the grain elevator.

The cross as we see it today is not the original cross which was the idea of the Morrison Lions Club sometime in the late 1940’s and implemented by a Mr. Art Badger, a member of the Lions Club at that time. Mr. Badger owned a lumber company which was doing business on the East side of the elevator and he provided the manpower to erect the cross each Easter by climbing to the top of the old elevator and lowering it with ropes along the side of the structure. The original, as the present cross, was lit with light bulbs so it could be viewed from miles away.

Paul Brondyke, just out of the armed services in 1953 joined the Lions Club and immediately took up as one of his community services, the maintaining of the Easter cross. For the past 50 years Paul has been the primary consultant and caretaker of the cross. He tells us that in 1973 the Lions Club commissioned a sign company to build a new cross structure and it was to include a “star” so that during the Christmas season the star would be lit. This structure is the one you see today and the employees of the elevator simply flip a switch in the office to light the star during Christmas or the cross during Easter. Over 100 40 watt bulbs are used to light each figure and the elevator graciously donates the electricity for the lighting.

Paul is now semi retired and wonders aloud who might watch over this wonderful piece of Morrison history as the years go by. Paul and Merritt Pitcher last reconditioned the lights with new sockets in 1998 and as Paul says now, “I’m not sure if I want to climb that high anymore !” as it is over 120ft. high on the new elevator. We’re not sure who will take charge of its well being, however. When you see Paul on the street take the time to congratulate him on half a century of unselfish passion to make sure the cross and star shine bright during the Easter and Christmas seasons for the entire community of Morrison.

By: Bob Vaughn

by Bob Vaughn, theCity1.com
April 18, 2003