An elevator at Solsgirth was built in 1961 by National Grain. Sold to Cargill Grain in 1975, the elevator and its annexes were destroyed by fire on December 16, 1981, shortly after undergoing an extensive renovation costing some $750,000. It was replaced by a new composite-style elevator constructed in mid-1982. Traded to Manitoba Pool in June 1995, the elevator was closed by Agricore United in 2002. It is now used for private grain storage.
Photo: Gordon Goldsborough
An elevator at Ste. Agathe was built around 1938 by La Cie Parent. Purchased by Manitoba Pool Elevators in 1945, its capacity was increased with crib annexes built in 1956 and 1962. Elevator and annexes were destroyed by fire on September 29, 1962 and rebuilt as a composite-style elevator later that year. Fully renovated in 1984, with an additional crib annex moved from Silver Plains, the facility operated until 2002 when it was closed by Agricore United and demolished in 2010.
Photo: Bernie Freeman
In 1927, United Grain Growers built a 30,000-bushel elevator at Pipestone to replace an earlier elevator dating from 1897. A 30,000-bushel balloon annex was constructed on its east side in 1952. Renovated between 1967 and 1968, it became the second UGG elevator here when, in early 1979, the company traded for the Manitoba Pool elevator (built 1929) in the background of this 1971 photo. Both elevators were closed in October 1991 and demolished in March 1992.
Photo: University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections
In 1962, an elevator was built by Federal Grain at Mile 10.6 along Wilkes Avenue on the outskirts of Winnipeg (known in the 1930s as the St. Charles Siding). Initially accompanied by a single crib annex, its capacity was expanded with a second annex in 1965, raising its total to 155,000 bushels. Sold to Manitoba Pool in 1972, a local management committee was formed in February 1973. Major renovations were undertaken in early 1988. The elevator closed around 2000, shortly before this photo was taken, and was demolished in early 2003.
Photo: John Friesen
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.
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.
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