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Post by putsie on Oct 14, 2012 16:15:05 GMT -5
Sad... The last wood elevator in Congress, SK. is currently in the process of being gutted. It will most likely be knocked down by the end of the year. With all the old elevators I've been in and seen come down around the local area over the years this one is especially hard for me to see go. Congress is 8 miles away from me and my Dad, uncle and Grandpa all hauled to this elevator back when it was still a UGG and later Agricore-United (It's now owned by Cargil). I've spent a lot of time in trucks both as a passenger and hauling myself to this elevator. It was the biggest and most modern wood elevator in the area when I was a kid right into about 1993 when the first cement elevator (center structure) was built. In fact I very vaguely have memories of when the second annex was added to the elevator in about 1984-85.   Landscapes about to change.  I took these pics this past Feb, when I first heard about Cargil's plans to "take her down".   Chris |
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Post by case2470 on Oct 14, 2012 21:05:13 GMT -5
Yeah its going to be sad to see it go down, and it will defiantly be different driving by and not seeing it. I was actually lucky enough to haul a couple loads of grain into the old wood elevator in 2011.
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Post by Southern on Oct 15, 2012 3:58:28 GMT -5
I know what you mean. Sad site to see them go. We didn't have elevators like that in my area. But I saw a trucking company building torn down. It helped build our town. And also a huge cotton mill as well. Those places was the back bone of my town. But no longer. Even saw the old cotton gin below my home go. Showing what we used to have in the area.
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Post by 70ds on Oct 15, 2012 21:19:23 GMT -5
Why are they taking all the wooden elevators down? Is is a safety issue. I have seen pictures of them on fire before. There is still one of them in operation at the north end of the county.
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Post by putsie on Oct 15, 2012 22:16:58 GMT -5
I think it's somewhat about upkeep and maintaining the facility. Fires can be a hazard, most are usually mice/rat infested too. No doubt the concrete structures are far superior and modern. Just can't beat the character of a old wood elevator and having the experience of hauling into one. Especially back in the days of having the guys weigh you using a old beam scale and hand written (or chicken scratched) grain/weight tickets.
Most smaller country elevators around here were shut down back in the early-mid 90's as a cost saving measure by the big grain companies. Replaced by the concrete terminals in "centralized" locations. Which meant longer distances for most farmers to truck grain. We've been fortunate. We have 3 big grain terminals (Viterra, Cargil, and Paterson) within 15 miles of the farm.
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Post by miniskfarm on Oct 16, 2012 10:48:46 GMT -5
I was wondering why they wouldn't sell that one to a local farmer or smaller grain company but looking at the site they might have plans for the space.
Pontex still has a nice row of old elevators, all of which are still in use from farmers or local companies.
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Post by putsie on Oct 16, 2012 23:57:48 GMT -5
Yah, Cargil owns the whole strip there. All their fertilizer bins and blending facility is on the south side of the elevators. I'm sure they'll have plans for that spot in the future. My guess is a new Fertilizer facility and/or chemical warehouse.
There's still a few town's along hwy 13 west still sporting their elevators (at least last time I was out that way). GW railway keeping the rail line open to Cadillac has sure helped. I know a few guys who haul to "producer car" locations too around Hazenmore I think.
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