Getting Creative With Concrete In Kansas

   Concrete, as anyone in the construction business knows, is just about the most useful material available. It is by far the most used building material on the planet - ton for ton its use worldwide outweighs the use of aluminum, wood, steel and plastic - by nearly double. 

   That is primarily due to it's amazing property of being both incredibly easy to manipulate in it's liquid state, and incredibly strong when it cures to a solid state. When it is joined with reinforcing materials such as rebar or fiberglass, both it's tensile strength and durability are greatly increased.

   Concrete was developed thousands of years ago in diverse areas of the world - most people are aware of what the ancient Romans were able to build using concrete (aqueducts, collesiums, huge unreinforced domes, etc.) as well as what the ancient Greeks and Egyptians created with concrete, but concrete was also used by the ancient Syrians and even the Mayans.

   However, the modern era of concrete use didn't start until both French and British builders started developing new ways to make use of the material. The work of British engineer John Smeaton (with his use of hydraulic lime to make concrete), British bricklayer and inventor Joseph Aspdin (with the production of Portland cement) and French gardener and inventor Joseph Monier (with his development of reinforced concrete), really got the concrete ball rolling and lead to it becoming the second most-used substance on earth (the first is water).

   The plasticity of concrete is legendary, but it's use as an artistic medium is often overlooked. Except in Kansas, that is. Specifically in the small town of Burton (pop. 861).

   Burton, Kansas is where you will find Yoder's Ornamental Concrete. In the spring of 1983 Ivan and Polly Yoder started making concrete statues. Within that first year the business grew considerably, and before the end of the 1980's they had several employees and now, 40-plus years later, the business is still going strong.

   Of course, I had to take a few photos of their very large selection of unique statuary.

   Many more of their products can be seen at www.yodersornamentalconcrete.com, or you can pay them a visit in Burton - they are open 7 days a week.

   Just be sure to bring a big truck and a couple of strong friends if you do decide on a visit - these concrete creations are pretty heavy!