At the peak of the country elevator, most communities had more than one Grain Company competing for the business of the farmers; to buy their grain and sell them chemicals. In the early 1900’s most towns had an “elevator row”. Due to the proliferation of privately owned elevators and then their eventual amalgamation, a company would often have more than one elevator in a community. More than two elevators were known as “elevator row”. Some communities had a dozen of elevators. The number of elevators in “elevator row” served as bragging rites for the community and was used as promotional enticements to settlers. Elevators were built eight or nine miles apart to ensure grain delivery would be no more than one days drive by horse drawn wagon. Almost all hamlets, villages and towns had elevators. Today, only two surviving “elevator rows” remain in Canada; Warner, Alberta and Inglis Manitoba. The folks in Inglis have done an excellent job of preserving and promoting the elevators.
Our station in Nobleford, in southern Alberta, was a prime example. Villages of Nobleford, Barons, Carmangay, Champion and Vulcan followed the rail line north. They all had an elevator row, with multiple grain companies and were nine to twelve miles apart.
Our station in Nobleford, in southern Alberta, was a prime example. Villages of Nobleford, Barons, Carmangay, Champion and Vulcan followed the rail line north. They all had an elevator row, with multiple grain companies and were nine to twelve miles apart.
