Sanford_Pool_cmyk.jpg
An elevator and crib annex at Sanford were built by Manitoba Pool in 1949 to replace ones destroyed by fire in September 1948. Closed in April 1996, it was sold into private hands. Demolition of the annex, seen here in January 2019, was akin to chopping down a tree. After making a large opening on one side, a push on the opposite side brought it down. It took 30 minutes from start to finish then the wood was hauled to the local landfill and burned. Four weeks later, the elevator fell in the same manner.
Photo: Gordon Goldsborough
Benito_Row_cmyk.jpg
Benito had four elevators when this photo was taken in 1971. The United Grain Growers facility in the background dated from 1937. It was closed in 1997. The Federal elevator next to it was built in 1929 by Searle Grain, merged into Federal in 1966, and sold to Pool in 1972. It closed in 1983. The National elevator was built in 1912 by the British America Elevator Company, which merged into National in 1940 then sold to Federal in 1969 and to Pool in 1972. It closed in 1980. The Manitoba Pool elevator in the foreground was built in 1952 alongside two older, smaller elevators. Renovations in 1976 entailed replacement of the oldsters with a modern crib annex. This last elevator in town was closed in January 2002 and demolished later that year.
Photo: University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections
Ninette_Pool_cmyk.jpg
The original Manitoba Pool elevator at Ninette burst open and collapsed in September 1967 and was replaced by one moved from nearby Hilton, acquired in trade from United Grain Growers. The relocated elevator was officially opened in December 1967, with the first unloading by John McKay, the last still-farming original member of the Ninette Pool Elevator Association. This photo of it dates from 1977. The elevator was closed in August 1987 and, despite efforts to save it, was demolished in late October 1988, with the debris burned at the local landfill.
Photo: Hilt Friesen Fonds, S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University
Vista_Pool_cmyk.jpg
A 30,000-bushel elevator at Vista, five miles southeast of Rossburn, was built around 1912 by Western Canada Flour Mills. Sold to Manitoba Pool in 1940, steel storage tanks were constructed beside it circa 1964. The elevator closed in July 1968 and, that October, was sold to United Grain Growers, becoming its second elevator at the site. Closed between 1983 and 1985, both elevators were later demolished.
Photo: University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections
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.
