The last elevator I bought and closed was the Pool in Laverna Sask. (built 1927 I believe) Yes like this it was run on ropes and so much history behind it. I found old papers also the blueprint in a safe under the office by the 1 lung engine.
It did but we were able to salvage a lot from this old building. Win some lose some… an attempt was made to make use of what would otherwise be considered rural wood waste. That’s what counts!!!!
Saw the headline on a Guardian post on Facebook and I immediately wanted to track down who owned it in order to do exactly what you're doing. Thank you for salvaging this and not just letting it go in to a dump.
Normally, tearing down a Canadian icon goes against the grain and quite frankly, hard to digest. However, your planning, caring and hard work to reclaim every kernel of these prairie giants, is definitely food for thought. It won’t be a cake walk for sure, and we’ll be cheering you on from the comfort of our homes. 👍👍
Troy as a lover of Canadian history and the Canadian West's important contribution to the world's food supply. I'm glad you have taken this important task on saving Canada's gift to the rest of the world. Thanks so much!
Thank you for your support, nobody to this point was interested in trying to make a project out of these two historical icons. We are doing our best and will continue todo so as it just feels right.
What great work- from the vision to the plan to the video! Too often important parts of our history are ignored, left to collapse and rot instead of being salvaged to play a part in our present and our future. Big thanks and respect!
Having lived in Kenora all my life, Lake of The Woods Milling Co. is no stranger to me.The only thing I can say in regards to your project, is good luck! May you end up with a tidy profit from all the re-sales! Also, I'll tell you right now, that barnboard makes one fantastic finished floor, with 8-9 coats of polyurethane on it. This, coming from someone who has laid one in the past. Now, I'm a retired carpenter, and I get to sit back and watch the next generation doing things....
Will be following you on this Troy with a bit of a backwards glance and moist eye. Our Dad "reclaimed" 30 elevators and annexes across Manitoba from Ridgeville to Miniota with a motley crew of young guys using a crowbar, gooseneck and hammers.
We are happy to have you join us on our project. It very much sounds that history is repeating itself as low tech tools are very effective and will be used extensively. This is our second and third elevator, 30 elevators deserves a hats off!
It's great to see you recycling a very large chunk of Manitoba's and Canada's contemporary history. It brings back memories of my good fortune hitch hiking and driving across the Canadian Prairies over 35 years ago.
My Grandfather built one of these in the early 60's, not nearly as old as this one, in northern Iowa. It was still in great condition but too small for modern grain yields. It was demolished around 2020 and I wish I could have salvaged some of the lumber. Great to see you could and did with this one.
What a fabulous project to come across and follow. I love timber that has a story. My home is made from a recycled 70 year old shack. Here in Tasmania (island state south of Australia) a shack is a rudimentary holiday home, what you would call a cabin. I envy the recipients of your timber and applaud your intentions. Bravo.
We are happy to have you follow along our journey! Yes, there will be some incredible projects completed using the raw material from these elevators. So exciting, I can't wait to see finished project photos flood in.
You would have loved to salvage an old corn crib we had in Iowa. It was originally used to store ear corn, which is considerably lighter than shelled corn. Dad reinforced it with home sawed oak lumber. He removed the slats on the outside and replaced them with 1 1/2 ship lap. Nailed 2x12s alongside the beams in the basement to reinforce them. Trussed the oats bins upstairs. We would fill half of the driveway with corn too, had a feed grinding setup in the other half. Always raised hogs in the basement. Chock full it would hold 10,000 bushels
Great project. Be safe and good luck. My name is Francois from Québec. I send you all my positive energy . It is not going to be a easy one. I support you 100 %. The vidéo is fun to look at. Thanks for your effort.
Of the thousands of elevators I've photographed over the past couple of decades, Elva has been a favourite to the lense with its wide-open (Prairie) approaches and the charm that over 400 seasons of standing MB proud brings. It is a sad note that it is coming down; however, I take solace that it is not the traditional wrecker munching away at it, but pieces will live on with folks across the country. To that, I'll have to venture down (with camera in hand) and maybe meet some of the folks that are caring to share history forward.
These elevators provide an amazing view from multiple directions, definitely picturesque. Our favorite is the view when driving towards the elevator in town with a row of trees in the foreground.
i will follow you with great interest, Troy and team! i’m a city gurl whose Mom grew up in Cupar Sask. i got to visit an elevator as a teen and never forgot it. keep safe! i’d like to buy some old nails when they’re salvaged.
Thank you for sharing, the sentimental value is real for us as well including memory flashes from the past. This is how we know the effort is worth it.
Hats off to Murce Ariel, I was part of the video, Sonny was the creator. It’s will be an amazing challenge, definitely worth the effort! Thanks for chiming in Rob.
Just wanted to say thanks for doing this - I had hoped to visit these elevators this year for photography, but obviously won't make it in time. Instead, I went ahead and bought some of the siding from you a couple days ago so I can do my part in preserving history. Not sure what I'll do with it yet, but I'll think of something. Cheers!
Compliments form Asturias, Spain. If this is the only option available...I really think this is a great job. We have in Asturias the equivalent to the grain elevators called the "horreos" (to keep al the production from the farm...potatos, corn,...). But, unless we restore them the other legal option is to let them fall :-(
Troy - Great to see a prairie icon being salvaged. I wonder though, where the wood originated and the type of wood used in construction of the elevator As a little girl in the sixties I would sit in the grain truck with my friend and her Uncle Regg would drive to a grain elevator near Gibbons Alberta. I cannot remember the type of grain but I do remember the dust. Look froward to more videos.
Where the wood originated I can not be certain but do know that it arrived on train (CPR). Many of us remember riding in old grain trucks, myself included with my grandfather. Thank you for joining us.
I don't know what you plan to do with the material that you will be salvaging from these elevators, but I hope that you will be offering some of items for sale online.
As this project progresses we will be updating our website with items available for the re-use market. Please check out our description for more info and our website thedenbarnwood.com
When do you think you’re gonna start taking it apart? I went in November assuming it would be a few weeks before it would be gone. I heard someone bought it in a tax auction and I got excited assuming it would prolong its doom for a little while longer. I’m hoping to make a few more trips before you take it down is there any dates or time spans where you think the phases would start?
Our project has begun yet it is not a rapid development. Carefully reclaiming these beautiful elevators will take time. It’s a very interesting perspective as we will continue through the phases.
Yes and no, the should of, could of, and would of has long past during the 60 years of private ownership. We intercepted them from certain demolition as a responsible alternative.