1954 – Plant begins production of nitrogen fertilizer.

2001 – Plant is shut down after U.S. fertilizer market takes a downturn.

2002 – Kansas City, Mo.-based Farmland Industries files for bankruptcy.

2003 – Farmland sells most of its business divisions to competitors, but there’s no taker for the Lawrence plant, which was Farmland’s oldest.

2004 – Roger Billings, an eccentric businessman dubbed “doctor of hydrogen,” makes an offer to buy the plant to make hydrogen fuel cells. The deal ultimately stalls, and he rescinds the offer.

2005-2006 – City and county commissioners continue to discuss the possibility of buying the property to convert into an industrial park.