Hargrave_Pool_cmyk.jpg
A 40,000-bushel elevator at Hargrave, on the CPR Broadview Subdivision, was built in 1928 by Manitoba Pool for a local farmer co-operative. In 1952, its capacity was increased to 85,000 bushels with the construction of a balloon annex alongside it. Traded to United Grain Growers in April 1979, the elevator was operated successively by Agricore United and Viterra. Closed in 2011, the steel tanks were disassembled and the elevator was demolished in July 2014.
Photo: Bernie Freeman
Pendennis_Poolcmyk.jpg
A small stone monument in the Municipality of Riverdale is all that marks the location of Pendennis. Established in 1903 and named for a character in the 19th century novel The History of Pendennis, this siding on the CPR Lenore Subdivision had a post office, general store, and Manitoba Pool elevator, seen in this photo from August 1948. The last vestige was gone by March 1964 when the elevator was destroyed by fire.
Photo: Manitoba Pool (WCPI), S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University
Chillon_Pool_cmyk.jpg
In 1929, the CPR announced that two elevators at the siding of Chillon, about four miles southeast of Binscarth, shipped more grain than 80 per cent of the other elevators in Manitoba. Seen here in the 1960s, Pool A at right was built between 1921 and 1922 by Paterson Grain. Sold to Manitoba Pool in 1928, its capacity was expanded in 1952 with a large balloon annex. The Pool B elevator at left was built in 1921 by United Grain Growers, expanded in 1952, and sold in 1960. The elevators were closed in mid-1971 and dismantled in 1972.
Photo: Manitoba Pool (WCPI), S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University
Dunrea_Pool_cmyk.jpg
An elevator at Dunrea was built in 1928 by Manitoba Pool Elevators. In 1968, its 70,000-bushel capacity was expanded by a 110,000-bushel crib annex. Renovated in 1983 and 1987, the facility was closed by Agricore in mid-2001 and sold into private hands. In mid-March 2006, a blaze in the facility was fought by firefighters from Dunrea, Ninette, and Killarney. The wood burned down to the level of grain in the bins, some of which was later salvaged, and the remainder was demolished.
Photo: Bernie Freeman
In the 1950s, there were over 700 grain elevators in Manitoba. Today, there are fewer than 200. You can help to preserve the legacy of these disappearing “Prairie sentinels.”
The Manitoba Historical Society (MHS) is gathering information about all elevators that ever stood in Manitoba, regardless of their present status. Collaborating with the Manitoba Co-operator it is supplying these images of a grain elevator each week in hopes readers will be able to tell the society more about it, or any other elevator they know of.
MHS Gordon Goldsborough webmaster and Journal editor has developed a website to post your replies to a series of questions about elevators. The MHS is interested in all grain elevators that have served the farm community.
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Your contributions will help gather historical information such as present status of elevators, names of companies, owners and agents, rail lines, year elevators were built — and dates when they were torn down (if applicable).
There is room on the website to post personal recollections and stories related to grain elevators. The MHS presently also has only a partial list of all elevators that have been demolished. You can help by updating that list if you know of one not included on that list.
Your contributions are greatly appreciated and will help the MHS develop a comprehensive, searchable database to preserve the farm community’s collective knowledge of what was once a vast network of grain elevators across Manitoba.
Please contribute to This Old Grain Elevator website here.
You will receive a response, by email or phone call, confirming that your submission was received.
Goldsborough is interested in hearing all sorts of experiences about the elevators — funny, sad, or anything in between. Readers willing to share their stories can leave messages at 204-474-7469.
