Katy-area resident to restore historic J.V. Cardiff & Sons rice dryer

When the dryer was up for sale, many Katy residents were concerned with the dryer falling into the wrong hands, Davitz said, such as someone who wanted to demolish the structure. Thankfully, the buyer quickly shared their plans to restore it, and extreme care and thought are going into each step of the process, Davitz said.

“This has been such an important part of Katy’s history and we are thankful for the huge part the entire Cardiff family has contributed to our city,” Davitz said.

The main goal for now, the owner said, is to begin getting the structure preserved and to stop any deterioration—a task that will take time to complete.

“Pumping water out of the basements, getting the roof and windows sealed to prevent water intrusion, and so on,” the owner said.

Katy City Council Member Chris Harris said in an email that he wishes the new owner success.

“The rice dryers are very important to the Katy community and history of the community,” he said. “I am relieved that the new owner intends to continue the history and is making a significant investment in our town.”

Residents can find pages dedicated to the Cardiff rice dryer restoration project on Facebook or Instagram for updates and a behind-the-scenes look of the restoration process, the owner said.

“We hope to make the city of Katy proud,” the owner said.