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Grain Elevators (1885-1930)

History

A vital component of the distribution and storage network of the emerging agricultural economy in Manitoba were the country grain elevators that were built along the rail lines beginning in the 1880s. By 1910 there were 707 grain elevators in this province. Elevators were usually located eight to ten miles apart. This was a convenient distance that allowed a farmer to deliver his grain and return home the same day. Elevators were owned exclusively by private companies until the advent of farmer-owned Co-operatives in the early 1900s.

Grain Elevators

Click on the characteristic buttons below or on the building to explore the characteristics.

Weigh station on side of tall windowless structure with equipment to vacuum grain in and out of grain bins to trains
Cupola Gable or pyramidal roof Shed roof Driveway Weigh scales Boot tank Conveyor belt Distributor Grain bins Hopper Scale Direct spout Rail car

Cupola

Cupola

Dome / Cupola

a small domed structure on top of a roof or larger dome

Styles with this characteristic

Buildings with this characteristic

Gable or pyramidal roof

Gable roof

Gable roof

a roof with gables at each end

Styles with this characteristic

Buildings with this characteristic

Pyramidal roof

Pyramidal roof

a hip roof where the sloping ridges (or hips) rise to a single point, creating a pyramid-like shape

Styles with this characteristic

Buildings with this characteristic

Shed roof

Shed roof

Shed roof

a roof sloping to only one side

Styles with this characteristic

Driveway

Driveway

A shed-roofed driveway encloses the weigh scales.

Weigh scales

Weigh scales

When receiving grain at an elevator, the loaded grain truck enters a driveway. and the entire truck is weighed on a platform scale.

Boot tank

Boot tank

Grain empties though a grate in the driveway floor into a boot tank.

Conveyor belt

Conveyor belt

The grain is lifted to the top of the elevator by the leg, a vertical conveyor belt with cups attached.

Distributor

Distributor

At the head grain passes through a distributor that deposits the grain into a selected grain bin.

Grain bins

Grain bins

The familiar elevator form is defined by its function: grain bins from the thick, windowless vertical shaft of the building.

Hopper Scale

Hopper Scale

The contents of a selected grain bin flows into a hopper scale where it is weighed, dumped into the boot tank and lifted by the leg to the distributor.

Direct spout

Direct spout

The grain flows down the direct spout and into the waiting rail car.

Rail car

Rail car

The grain flows down the direct spout and into the waiting car.

Characteristics

  • the familiar elevator form is defined by its function: grain bins from the thick, windowless vertical shaft of the building
  • the cupola, a small gable- or pyramidal-roofed section atop the structure, shelters the head of the elevator leg and the distributor box
  • different types and grades of grain were stored in separate bins
  • a shed-roofed driveway encloses the weigh scales
  • early elevators are typically 32 feet square, 70-80 feet high and contain 16-18 grain bins above which is a cupola
  • walls are of cribbed construction: 2"x4" or 2"x6" lumber is stacked and nailed horizontally to create extra strong bin walls
  • typical elevator construction and form did not change significantly over the years; driveways grew longer to accommodate larger trucks; elevators grew taller; and separate grain bin structures called annexes were built to increase storage capacity