Welcome to the Grain Elevator History Project

The Grain Elevator History Project is a project of Just Group which is owned and operated by Trevor Esau. To see more about Just Group go to www.justgroup.ca

Contact Trevor at justcdgroup@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

We are fascinated by grain elevators. We are struck by their beauty. The colourful landmarks are the subject of paintings, photographs, and pictorial books. The hamlets, villages and towns were defined, in part, by their elevators. We searched for them on the horizon as we drove to each community. The names of the community were clearly visible on the sides of the elevator. They were a distant sign that we were close to home. More than that, grain elevators are part of our own experiences of Canadian culture.

The rise of the country elevator was a strong icon for the strength of rural life in Canada and their destruction a symbol for its weakening. In 1934, the number of grain elevators in Alberta peaked at 1,781. Today there are less then 130 standing and few used by the grain trade. Those left are run down.

We are also telling the inside and hidden histories of the grain elevator through first hand accounts. We invite people to tell us their stories by e-mail. The stories submitted appear in the personal experience page.


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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Alberta's oldest standing elevator at Rayley





While researching the history of the elevator, surprised to learn that the oldest surviving elevator in Alberta was located in Rayley, Albert.

The rail line hand been abandoned years ago and the rails pulled out. The elements had slowly exacted a great toll on the building. The tin siding was tattered and missing in places; windows long since broken out; and doors a jar. The exposed wood was starting to show signs of serious rot.  The grates were missing above the pit and some of the stairways were not trustworthy. It was in a state of disrepair and yet surprisingly in tact.
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