Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre is a set of restored grain elevator
s located in Nanton
, Alberta
, Canada
. The centre's goal is to preserve examples of old grain elevators to educate visitors about the town's, and Alberta's, agricultural history.
that the elevators stood next to. Many worried citizens in and around the town of Nanton
had realized that a part of the town's and province's history was about to be torn down and lost for ever.
The concerned citizens of Nanton had rallied together and formed a Historical Society
appropriately named "Save One". Of course the original goal of the save one effort was to do just that, save one, but before anything could be done to save the elevator the Society had to gain full title
to the land and buildings. Which was a big undertaking that would take three years to achieve. With so many volunteer hours from many local businesses and citizens, the Society was so successful that not only did they end up saving just one elevator, but all three remaining elevators. Many donations from members and surrounding farmers-ranchers, have been made and have helped in replacing the railway tracks next to the elevators the completion of many of the repairs and restorations that needed to be done on the elevators. Including painting the former Alberta Wheat Pool
back to its original green and the former Pioneer
elevator back to the original orange & yellow.
Included in the row, but not apart of the Elevator Discovery Centre is the Nanton Seed Cleaning Co. elevator which is a smaller elevator.
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
s located in Nanton
Nanton, Alberta
Nanton is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. Nanton was named after Sir Augustus Meredith Nanton, of Winnipeg who directed firms that offered financing for farms and ranches throughout the west...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The centre's goal is to preserve examples of old grain elevators to educate visitors about the town's, and Alberta's, agricultural history.
History
In 2001 the last of Nanton’s grain elevator row was threatened by demolition because of recent abandonment of the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
that the elevators stood next to. Many worried citizens in and around the town of Nanton
Nanton, Alberta
Nanton is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. Nanton was named after Sir Augustus Meredith Nanton, of Winnipeg who directed firms that offered financing for farms and ranches throughout the west...
had realized that a part of the town's and province's history was about to be torn down and lost for ever.
The concerned citizens of Nanton had rallied together and formed a Historical Society
Historical society
A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...
appropriately named "Save One". Of course the original goal of the save one effort was to do just that, save one, but before anything could be done to save the elevator the Society had to gain full title
Title (property)
Title is a legal term for a bundle of rights in a piece of property in which a party may own either a legal interest or an equitable interest. The rights in the bundle may be separated and held by different parties. It may also refer to a formal document that serves as evidence of ownership...
to the land and buildings. Which was a big undertaking that would take three years to achieve. With so many volunteer hours from many local businesses and citizens, the Society was so successful that not only did they end up saving just one elevator, but all three remaining elevators. Many donations from members and surrounding farmers-ranchers, have been made and have helped in replacing the railway tracks next to the elevators the completion of many of the repairs and restorations that needed to be done on the elevators. Including painting the former Alberta Wheat Pool
Alberta Wheat Pool
The Alberta Wheat Pool was the first of Canada's wheat farmer co-operatives.-Early years:In 1923, the United Farmers of Alberta met with then Attorney General John Edward Brownlee to consider setting up a Wheat Pool just in Alberta...
back to its original green and the former Pioneer
Richardson International
Richardson International is a privately held Canadian agricultural and food industry company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It operates a network of grain handling facilities in the Canadian Prairies under the brand Richardson Pioneer, as well as port terminals in five cities...
elevator back to the original orange & yellow.
Included in the row, but not apart of the Elevator Discovery Centre is the Nanton Seed Cleaning Co. elevator which is a smaller elevator.