An elevator at Domain was built in 1928 by Manitoba Pool Elevators. Nine years later, a collapsing foundation forced it to close until repairs could be made. Initially rated with a 40,000-bushel capacity, it was enlarged with temporary balloon annexes in 1951 then with a 60,000-bushel, 18-bin crib annex in 1966. The facility was fully renovated in 1992. Closed by Agricore in 2001, it was sold into private ownership that oversaw the addition of two steel tanks on its north side.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: May 2019

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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

View from Fort Ellice site.

Visit the site of old Fort Ellice

A good destination for birdwatchers and those interested in history

For history buffs and keen birders, an interesting spot to visit is the site of old Fort Ellice, southwest of St. Lazare, Manitoba. This area is also part of the Ellice-Archie and Spy Hill Community Pasture, formerly PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration), that straddles the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border. It was recently included as part of Manitoba’s


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.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: March 2019

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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

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.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: February 2019

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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

A 42,000-bushel elevator at Forrest, five miles north of Brandon, was built in 1927 by Manitoba Pool. A year later, 22-year-old George Turner was hired as its grain buyer. Transferred to Winnipeg in 1941, he rose through the ranks to become general manager and president of the company. A 66,000-bushel crib annex was built beside the elevator in 1956. The facility closed in mid-1980 when its CPR line was abandoned. It remained in use for private grain storage until about a year before this photo was taken in April 2017. Demolition began in late November 2018.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: January 2019

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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


A 116,000-bushel elevator at Justice in the RM of Elton was built by Manitoba Pool Elevators in 1928, and renovated in 1966 and 1993. A 27-bin crib annex was constructed beside it in 1977. Closed by Agricore in 2001, the facility shown in this 2016 photo was no longer serviced by a railway line but it continued in use for private grain storage. In October 2018, its owner demolished it and the remaining wood was burned on site.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: November 2018

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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

Gordon Goldsborough has spent many months exploring abandoned sites on the Manitoba landscape including this interior of the ballon annex of a vacant grain elevator at Tyndall.

New tales told in ‘More Abandoned Manitoba’

Author Gordon Goldsborough is hitting the road with his newest release featuring 28 more fascinating stories about little-known places in rural Manitoba

Manitoba author Gordon Goldsborough is on the road again — this time to launch the sequel to his 2016 runaway bestseller Abandoned Manitoba. More Abandoned Manitoba: Rivers, Rails and Ruins released in October contains photos and stories of more than two dozen sites he’s visited in the past two years. Wherever he goes, there’s always

In 1949, Manitoba Pool built an elevator at Riverton. A nearby Federal Grain elevator, purchased in 1971, was moved beside it and converted into an annex, as seen in this photo from June 1977. Use of the CPR line from Gimli ended in 1988, but the 63,000-bushel facility continued to operate off track for two more years. Finally closed in December 1990, it was later demolished.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: October 2018

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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


This United Grain Growers elevator at Belmont occupied the site of a former elevator purchased by UGG from Canadian Consolidated Grain in 1959. Renovated in 1966, it was destroyed by fire on April 18, 1973. Rebuilt as a 109,000-bushel elevator and crib annex in 1974, it was closed permanently in January 1999, about 18 months after this photo was taken. It was demolished in October 2000.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: September 2018

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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

In August 1963, United Grain Growers opened a new 110,000-bushel composite-style (combined elevator and annex) elevator in Foxwarren, replacing one demolished earlier that year, next to a surviving balloon annex. Among the dignitaries attending the opening ceremony seen here was UGG president A.M. “Mac” Runciman. The facility was demolished by Agricore in December 2000.

PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: August 2018

The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba

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