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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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Balanacing on the Train Tracks




Canadian youth had a favourite passtime- balancing on the train track rails.  They would pass the time by balancing on the train track and count the number of tracks they could walk without falling off when visiting the elevator.  While they walked they collected rocks that were of interest . It could be dangerous. It was said that you could tell if a train was coming, the direction and how far away it was by kneeling down and placing one ear on the track, listen for the sound and feel the vibration. Few mastered that skill.  
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