Arndt Prune Dryer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Arndt Prune Dryer
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The Arndt Prune Dryer in 2015
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 2109 Northwest 219th Street, Ridgefield, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Fred Arndt |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002527 |
| Added to NRHP | October 4, 1979 |
The Arndt Prune Dryer is a special farm building in Ridgefield, Washington. It was built around 1898. This building is one of the last old-fashioned prune dryers still standing in Washington state.
Farmers used it to dry locally grown prunes. They used a wood fire and natural air flow to remove water from the fruit. Prunes were a very important crop in the Vancouver area. Dried prunes could be sent to markets without needing a refrigerator. This meant they wouldn't spoil on long trips.
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What is the Arndt Prune Dryer?
The Arndt Prune Dryer is a building made of wood. It has one story. It was first built for William Arndt by a carpenter. Its original size was about 14 feet (4.3 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m).
How the Dryer Grew
In 1920, Fred Arndt made the building much bigger. It grew to be about 230 feet (70 m) by 40 feet (12 m). The building has a pointed roof on its narrow ends. It also has extra parts with slanted roofs. One is at the back and another is at the front, with a small porch.
Building Materials and Design
The outside walls are covered with wood boards placed up and down. There is a small storage area attached to the back. The roof is made of wood shakes. On top of the roof, there is a tall, thin wooden vent. This vent helps air move through the building.
The whole building sits on large stone blocks. This raises it above the ground. This way, workers could easily get to the furnace underneath to add wood. The first furnace was built right there on the farm. In 1954, it was replaced. A new cast iron "Hercules" furnace was brought from another prune dryer. There was also another stove outside. This stove heated water for processing the prunes.
A Historic Landmark
The Arndt Prune Dryer is very important to history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 4, 1979. This means it is a special place that should be protected.
Even today, there are still old prune trees around the dryer. Some of these trees were planted way back in the 1890s. They show how important prunes once were to the area.
