This presentation by Dr. Gordon Goldsborough of the Manitoba Historical Society and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum talks about the remaining wooden grain elevators around Manitoba and what causes them to be abandoned.
As a 34 year old Manitoban, I'm really saddened by all the heritage that has been lost to time or progression. While I obviously enjoy the bigger faster "better" of progression.... I wish I cared more about history when I was 20 as I do now 14 years later. I missed out on so many opportunities to see historic places right "Next door" to me and I deeply regret not being able to see them today. I will be going to see the elevator in tyndal This year as I go out to Whiteshell every year to go camping and it feels like the time is now or never. Might even be able to make a great little teachable moment for my little girl who's now old enough to start understanding dads "old stories" Thank you for this great piece of recorded history and thank you for all the work you've done!
I feel the same way. Life long manitoban and never really paid attention to these big buildings. I just knew they were grain elevators. The history in these things are crazy
I'm from McCreary, Manitoba and was surprised to see the UGG elevator apparently not being used now but still in good shape! Can you do an episode on the the historical sites in and around the McCreary area? I also remember Norgate being a mile away, the farm I grew up on could be considered on the edge of Norgate! Would love to catch up on the historical side of the area!
This was just the video i was looking for as im planning a grain Elevator trip to Manitoba next year thanks so much i will be emailing you in the near future 👍
I once created a concept drawing in an architecture class at the U of M where a former grain elevator, or a modern building built to look like one, was made into an office space or cultural centre. It was liked by many of my prairie classmates, and insisted I go further into it... wonder if that could still happen
My Grandfather Roy Charles ran the Elevator in Brookdale from the 1930s until he retired in the late 1960s. We used to visit in the summer and I would watch the way they used to measure moisture levels in the grain by boiling it in oil. The entire building was surrounded by planted flowers.I have multiple award certificates for 'Best Maintained Elevator' given to my Grandfather from that time. Also, my uncle Keith Charles ran the elevator in Homewood and my uncle Don Charles the one in Rathwell.
I’ve done some day to weeks driving and have been gobsmacked at the disappearance of elevators in Alberta and western Saskatchewan. My children know I get pretty excited about seeing them ., which seems strange in itself. Do you know if there’s something like an ‘elevator tour’ featuring enough elevator sceneries worth driving 8-12 hrs to see? Lovely vid. Thx
Most informative. When I married in 1973, many of my husband’s relatives were “losing” their farms to the big farmer who could afford to buy to the latest new farm equipment with all the bells and whistles including air conditioned cabs 🥴(not that that would stop a farmer) but the latest equipment could do more than one job at a time and work 24/7 whereas the little guy working alone couldn’t keep up . So it made sense for them to sell out to their neighbour when offered a fair price. Also if memory serves, we were in a recession at the time which may have been another contributing factor. The big guys got bigger and the small farms and grain elevators disappeared.
Just so you guys know for your records the National Grain Elevator in Winnipegosis MB was torn down just a month or so ago. It was beyond repair and starting to fall over. Apparently it was the only one left in all of Western Canada but you guys would probably know more about that than me. lol
More people should know and discuss about saving the wooden grain elevators by technology to give high speed internet to rural areas. I have seen many saved by this means. An internet tower is attached to the top of them, which does not blow over in strong winds like the freestanding internet towers.
Also if you go to anther real big contribution to Manitoba agriculture. Not mentioned buy this HISTORIAN. check out the huge input to MANITOBA buy the hutteriette community.
