GRAIN ELEVATOR CONSERVATION - Saskatchewan

GRAIN ELEVATOR CONSERVATION

2010 Update

Fleming Lake of the Woods
Grain Elevator (1895)

Recognizing and Protecting a Saskatchewan Symbol

A Saskatchewan Icon As the number of rail lines, technology and corporate ap-
Grain elevators are the most communities and farmers in proaches evolved.
recognizable buildings in Sas- Saskatchewan grew in the
katchewan. They are distinc- years after 1900 so too did the Today, just over 420 grain ele-
tive symbols of our built heri- number of wooden country vators, terminals, and flour
tage and stand as icons of a elevators. At their high point, mills are standing in Sas-
way of life and of the province there were approximately katchewan. This newsletter
3,300 elevators operating in provides an update on the
itself. the province. status of the remaining eleva-
tors in Saskatchewan.
The grain handling industry As grain handling technologies
has played a central role in evolved, several concrete ter-
Saskatchewan history. Initially, minal elevators came into exis-
grain was stored in flat ware- tence in Saskatchewan. The
houses where shoveling grain first of these was built in Sas-
and hand-hauling bagged katoon in 1909 and a handful
grain was employed. With the of similar facilities were built
advent of the railroad and the for grain storage and flour mill-
ing complexes in the province
need for larger grain ship- prior to World War One.
ments, this inefficient system
was soon outmoded and re- Initially built to complement the
placed by a gravity-fed loading wooden elevator system, con-
system. The first commercial crete and steel terminals be-
grain elevator in Saskatche- gan to replace the wooden crib
wan was constructed at Moo- elevator as grain handling
somin in 1884 by the Oglivie
Elevator Company.

1

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update Conserving an Elevator

Taking action to conserve an elevator, like any other “At their high-point in the early 1930s,
heritage building, involves identifying why the eleva- there were over 3,300 grain elevators in
tor is significant and planning for what the conserva- Saskatchewan. In 1999, there were over
tion project will involve. This may include taking 800 operational elevators in the prov-
action to formally or informally recognize the eleva- ince. In 2010, just over 420 remain. ”
tor and/or undertaking work aimed at preserving,
rehabilitating or restoring the elevator. Below are Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation
some suggestions to consider when planning your
project. 3. Determine its Significance
While elevators are part of the larger story of
1. Make a Plan grain handling in Saskatchewan, each one has an
A good place to start is to make some decisions individual story and special characteristics which
about what you want to accomplish with the eleva- make them unique and special to your community.
tor and write them down. This process will include It is this story which you will want to record and
determining if the elevator is going to be used for its consider in your plan.
original purpose or if a new use is part of the plan.
Information on elevators can be found in a wide
2. Get the Community Involved variety of sources. Some places to start your search
Conserving a grain elevator is often a big pro- for information are: municipal records, local histo-
ject and will benefit from a variety of people and ries and newspapers, former employees and grain
organizations being actively involved. Because of and rail company records held in archival collec-
their central organization and regulatory role, the tions.
municipal government is usually a key player in this
process. Where elevators are still in use and located You will also want to study the elevator itself
on rail line rights-of-ways, involving the rail and and determine what physical qualities embody its
grain handling companies is essential. Local citizens, significance. These qualities can be called
business people, historical societies, and other com- “character-defining elements” and may include
munity members can also offer insight on such pro- paint schemes, grain handling equipment, style, lo-
jects. cation or building materials.

Sintaluta Crown
Elevator Co.
The Crown Elevator
Co. elevator (right)
was constructed
between 1901 and
1903.
Bulyea Saskatche-
wan Whear Pool #1
Grain Elevator (far
right) features a wood
crib construction
grain elevator (1925),
a frame annex
(1955), and a larger
wood crib elevator
constructed in 1968.

2

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update Recognize and Protect Heritage value is the aes-
thetic, historic, scientific,
Recognition involves letting the public cultural, social or spiritual
know that the community feels that the importance for past, pre-
elevator is significant. This can be done sent, or future generations.
informally, by raising awareness through The heritage value of a
plaques, brochures, websites, or formally, place is embodied in its
through designation of the elevator as a character-defining materi-
heritage property. als, forms, location, spatial
configurations, uses and
The municipality can designate the cultural associations or
property as a Municipal Heritage Prop- meanings.
erty, which provides public recognition
for the elevator and legal protection Parks Canada
from alterations being done which are
not approved by the municipality.

If the elevator is potentially ‘provin- including track-side buildings such as Conquest Saskatchewan Co-
cially’ significant for its importance to elevators. Municipal and provincial by- operative Elevator (1911)
the people of Saskatchewan, it can be laws and legislation do not necessarily
nominated for designation as Provincial apply to these right-of-ways. Conse- For more information about the act:
Heritage Property. This designation will quently, when the elevator is located on Rail Services, Ministry of
provide legal protection and increased an active rail line, the rail company must Highways and Infrastructure
awareness of the significant elements of be included in the process. 9th floor, 1855 Victoria Avenue
the elevator Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3V5
Phone: (306) 787-5847
The Railway Act is federal legisla- Fax: (306) 787-3963
tion which provides the railway compa-
nies with the power to manage all devel-
opments along the rail line right-of-ways,

Conservation Some actions may need to be taken Preservation
Approaches to ensure the building is safe for people, The action or process of protecting,
as well. Key elements on elevators which maintaining or stabilizing the existing
During the conservation process should be considered include: materials, form, and integrity of a his-
some actions may need to be taken to toric place or of an individual compo-
extend the physical life of the elevator. • Roofs (missing and rotted compo- nent, while protecting heritage value.
nents)
Quaker Oats Flour Mill, Saskatoon (1910) Rehabilitation
The Mill was one of the earliest and largest • Walls (missing and rotted compo- The action or process of making
processing facilities for cerael grain in Sas- nents) possible a continuing or compatible con-
katchewan. temporary use of a historic place or an
• Foundations and other structural individual component, through repair,
elements (instability) alterations, or additions while protecting
heritage value.
• Infestations (insects, rodents,
mold, etc.) Restoration
The action or process of accurately
There are many actions which can revealing, recovering, or representing the
address these types of concerns to ensure state of a historic place or of an individ-
the long term viability of the elevator. ual component, as it appeared at a par-
How you choose to implement these ticular period in its history, while protect-
actions can be described as taking one of ing heritage value.
three approaches:

3

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update The Weyburn Inland Terminal is of heritage
value because of its status as Canada’s first
farmer-owned grain terminal.

Weyburn Inland Terminal Statement of Significance

Left: Weyburn Inland Terminal (1975)
Below: Kenaston Sask Wheat Pool “A” Steel Grain Elevator (c. 1960)

Evolution of the Wooden Country Elevator
A recent landmark

By Bernie Flaman

The wooden country elevator formed the backbone of the More than just being local landmarks, grain elevators
grain handling system in Saskatchewan for over 100 years. might be considered the first modernist buildings in the prov-
During that time, the look and design of the elevator evolved to ince. The austere and simple design of the country grain eleva-
meet the changing needs in the industry. Several periods of tor reflects the modernist movement in architecture during the
elevator design can be seen in Saskatchewan. 20th century. These architects found that elevators possessed a
relationship between form and function that “rejected the
According to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of decorative nature of traditional architecture” and can be in-
Canada paper “Framework and Criteria for the Evaluation of cluded with the Eiffel Tower and the Skyscrapers of Chicago as
Country Grain Elevators,” the four periods or phases in the important examples of this architectural style. (Flaman, 2004).
development of the prairie grain industry are as follows:

Genesis (1876-1900)
Expansion (1900-1930)
Maturity (1930-1970)
Attrition (1970- present)

4

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update Saskatchewan Grain Theodore Saskatchewan
Elevators Study Wheat Pool Centennial
have an interest in the fate of this unique Logo Grain Elevator is rep-
Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation architectural form. The study identified resentative of “modern tall”
approximately 525 remaining historic elevators.
An icon of the prairies, the country wooden grain elevators, and an addi-
grain elevator has been a symbol of ag- tional 70-75 modern terminals. Statement of Significance
riculture, transportation, and prairie
communities since the late nineteenth The inventory is maintained in both Theodore Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
century. It is a landmark in the Cana- paper and electronic form, and will be Centennial Grain Elevator (1967)
dian west. But closures, demolition, and updated on a continual basis.
rail-line abandonment have become the Please visit the Saskatchewan Heritage
Foundation’s website to download copies
new reality for these rural structures. of these reports:
Where there were once about 3,300
http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/SHF
in Saskatchewan alone, by 2006, there
were only 540. Their disappearance has
not gone unnoticed. In 1999, the Sas-
katchewan Heritage Foundation com-
missioned a study and inventory of the
remaining, operational wooden grain
elevators in the province. At that date,
approximately 800 grain elevators re-

mained in operation in the province.
In 2005-06, the Foundation, with

the Heritage Resources Branch, built on
the earlier study and commissioned a
second inventory, which includes modern
inland terminals. This inventory forms a
baseline for tracking the on-going demo-
lition of grain elevators. It is of interest
to researchers, communities where eleva-
tors are still located, the media, and the

general public, all of whom continue to

Top 10 At Risk 1. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool #1 Canadian Government Grain Elevator in
Grain Elevator, Bulyea Saskatoon is a complex of concrete and brick
Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation 2. Saskatchewan Co-operative structures. The heritage value of this elevator lies
Elevator Company Grain Elevator, in its role in reshaping the grain handling indus-
A list of the most significant remain- try. Farmers accused grain handling companies
ing elevators was compiled for possible Conquest of unfair practices at terminals aimed at sup-
future protection or recognition. 3. Humboldt Flour Mill and pressing grain prices. They believed the solution
Grain Elevator District, Humboldt lied in public expropriation of the terminals which
Gravelbourg Saskatchewan and Western 4. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool "A" should then be run as a public utility. This was
Elevator Company Grain Elevator Steel Grain Elevator, Kenaston one of five elevators built under the system of
The grain elevator was built in 1915 using wood 5. Crown Elevator Company Ele- publically owned terminals.
crib construction. vator, Sintaluta
6. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Cen-
tennial Grain Elevator, Theodore
7. Government Grain Elevator,

Saskatoon
8. Saskatchewan and Western
Elevator Company Grain Elevator,
Gravelbourg
9. Quaker Oats Flour Mill, Saska-
toon
10. Weyburn Inland Terminal,
Weyburn

5

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update Contact Information
Grain and Rail Companies

Grain handling and rail companies will need to be Rail Companies
included in the decision making process when con-
serving most elevators. Below please find contact Canadian National Railway
information for the major grain and rail companies Assistant Manager
operating in Saskatchewan. Please be advised, this CN Railways Properties
information may not be up-to-date. 22-1004-104 Ave
Edmonton AB
Grain Companies T5J 0K2

Viterra Canadian Pacific Railway
(formerly Saskatchewan Wheat Pool) Gulf Canada Square
2625 Victoria Ave 401 9th Ave. SM
Regina, SK S4T 7T9 Calgary, AB
(306) 569-4411 T2P 4Z4

Cargill Limited
P.O. Box 5900
300-240 Graham Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C5
(204) 947-0141

Paterson Grain Foods
22nd floor, 333 Main Street
MTS Place
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4E2
(204) 956-2090

Viterra
(formerly Agricore United)
CanWest Global Place
201 Portage Avenue
P.O. Box 6600
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3A7
(204) 944-5411

Richardson Pioneer Ltd.
(formerly Pioneer Grain Company)
3655 Quance Street
Regina, SK S4V 3A4
(306) 751-7700

Parrish & Heimbecker Limited
1400-201 Portage Ave
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3K6
(204) 956-2030

6

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update Sources
Studies and Histories

Everitt, John A Study of Grain Elevators in Mani-
toba, Province of Manitoba, Historic Resources
Branch 1992

Flaman, Bernard “Character and controversy:
The Mendel Art Gallery and Modernist Architec-
ture in Saskatchewan,” 2004, p. 33

Fulton, Gordon Framework and Criteria for the
Evaluation of Country Grain Elevators, Historic Sites and
Monuments Board of Canada agenda paper, 1995

Mahar-Keplinger, Lisa “Grain Elevators”
Princeton Architectural Press, New York NY, 1993,
p. 8

Lamour, Judy and Bengen, Les Heritage Prairie
Grain Elevator Project, Prepared for the Provincial Mu-
seum of Alberta, 1998

Pedersen, Maureen Saskatchewan Grain Elevators:
An Inventory based Research Project, Saskatchewan Heri-
tage Foundation, 2000

Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, Saskatche-
wan Grain Elevators: A Brief History of the Grain Han-
dling Industry, Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation,
2006

7

GRAIN ELEVATORS 2010 Update For More Information
Contact
Fleming Lake of the
Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation Woods Grain Eleva-
9th Floor, 1919 Saskatchewan Drive tor (1895) was de-
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 4H2 stroyed by fire on
[email protected] February 8, 2010.
306-787-2105

Funding

There may be grants and other funds available
to support a conservation project. Please visit
the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation’s web-
site for more information about grants:
http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/SHF

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