One of his father s companies specialized in unloading grain at the Oswego harbor. Grain used to be a major commodity at the port. Ships brought grain down from Duluth and Thunder Bay to Oswego, where it was transferred onto barges. It was then shipped down the canal to Albany, where it was loaded onto ocean going vessels. The advent of the St. Lawrence Seaway made this impractical.
Many residents consider it to be an eyesore.
Considering his family s history, it s somewhat fitting that Fitzgibbons has been a part in deciding the elevator s fate. His is looking at two options. One would be to update the elevator for grain storage. The other, more radical option, would be to lease the site to a developer. He points out that a similar elevator in Akron, Ohio, has been converted into a Hilton Hotel.