Memories of grain elevators

Sometimes memories of grain elevators go beyond simply delivering grain. In 1962, I was unloading a truckload of wheat at this former UGG elevator in Rosthern when I received a phone call from my father telling me that my mother had just delivered a set of twin boys. It was a surprise to everyone, including the doctors, that she had twins. I still associate this elevator with that phone call. I took this "updated" photo on August 19, 2015. (If only I'd taken a photo in 1962.)

In Rosthern again

I delivered grain to Rosthern when I was at home on the farm. I was "home" for a visit and just had to take another grain elevator photo. I took this one from a spot that I may have found before. I liked how the train cars formed a line next to the elevator. I guess I don't tire of these photos even though I've taken hundreds of them by now. It was a cloudy day which I prefer as it gives the sky some detail and appeal. The Pool sign has been painted over and is likely being managed by a private company.

Memories

One of the reasons I have collected photos of Saskatchewan grain elevators is because I used to haul grain to this very elevator when I was a teenager. Grain elevators were part of my life experience and became a part of my memory for ever. For many prairie folks elevators hold a special place near to their heart as farmers made up the majority of the province for the first years until cities grew in size often due to the fact that the small farmers could no longer afford to support themselves and had to sell to their wealthier neighbors. Many of the new city residents were farmers.

I've added some effects to this photo to make it appear like it's an old photo. Considering that I was a teenager so many years ago I think it's fitting.

Memories

When we used to sell cards and framed photos of Saskatchewan grain elevators at craft shows in Saskatoon, we'd hear many a story about parents or grandparents who had worked in elevators as agents and of those who delivered grain by horse and wagon way back when. They always came across as fond memories but also with some sadness at the thought of losing these prairie icons. With every wooden grain elevator that is torn down, memories go down with them. A physical reminder is far more powerful than an empty space beside the old railway tracks.
May this holiday season bring each of you fond memories of times past that we can build on for future generations.
All the best in 2015!

Another look at White Bear, SK

I thought I'd "paint" the falling icon and give it a look for posterity.

Bladworth impastoed

One of the "paints" that can be applied via software to photos is called impasto. I had to look it up. The link to trusty wikipedia is here. It's essentially a heavy pasting of paints creating a texture that reflects light and can give almost a 3D appearance. I applied it to a Bladworth elevator photo I took this August. I quite like the results.

Pense painted

I "painted" Pense like this using software and liked the effect of the red sky. It could be fire. Some wooden grain elevators burned down when grain got too hot because it wasn't dry enough to store. But many more were burned down intentionally when the grain companies made the decision to get rid of the town elevators. Perhaps this photo symbolizes the demise of the prairie grain elevators.

What if Van Gogh had painted Saskatchewan grain elevators?

Would it have looked something like this one I took of the Mortlach elevator?
 I'm trying out a program called Topaz Impressions. Great fun.

Moose Jaw, SK

I just had to stop, again, and take a photo of the Moose Jaw grain elevator. I stopped at the side of the highway and took it through the window of the car. It turned out to be a good thing we stopped to do this as the RCMP were catching speeding drivers close to where we stopped. IF I'd been speeding, of course.

Mortlach, SK

We drove by the Mortlach grain elevator that, thankfully, was still standing. I'd taken it before but this time there was a large puddle of water nearby offering a great reflection.

Pense, again

I got to wondering what this shiny elevator would look like in black and white. I quite like it.

Pense, SK

 Pense is a village of just over 500 residents, but still maintains its iconic wooden grain elevator.  I took another photo of it as we passed by Pense, which sits just west of the capital city of Saskatchewan.

Bladworth revisited

We drove by the Bladworth elevator during our latest trip in August, 2014. A barley crop was nearby so I included it in the photo. We noticed the absence of at least four of the elevators that I've posted on this blog, namely Hague, Hanley, Morse and Tompkins. Sad, but true.

Waseca, SK "The Little Village With a Big Heart".

We stopped at Waseca last June on our trip to Saskatoon. I'd taken photos of these elevators previously, however, since I like that they aren't painted and showing their age, I wanted to take some more. That's great for photography and shows up best in black and white, I think.

These elevators are privately owned. I ventured into one of the elevators to grab some shots. It seemed to be abandoned or at the very least, neglected. It made for some interesting photos. I'm sharing just a few here.

Wooden grain elevators in Waseca

The weigh station area

The elevator section

The vehicle tracks indicate usage

Memories of Plato 1905-1980

 We remembered Plato from a previous trip through this area and quickly stopped this past June (2013) to take another record shot of the standing elevator. The local residents have a written history of Plato. I've linked the section on grain handling here. If you click on the drop down menu you can go to other sections as well. An interesting read.

Lucky Lake, SK

Lucky Lake is a small village in central Saskatchewan that still has a standing wooden grain elevator. We stopped here on the way to Saskatoon this past June (2013) to take photos of the elevator and look at what the village has to offer. It looks like a village that still depends on the farmers and ranchers in the area for its existence. I imagine that oil workers are another source of income for the motel and restaurant in Lucky Lake. It was good to see another standing wooden grain elevator as so many are being torn down in the name of progress. This one looks like it's well used and in good shape.

Lacadena, SK

On our trip through the southern part of the province in June, 2013, we came across another Saskatchewan grain elevator that we hadn't seen before. This one is situated in the wide open prairies and seems out of place here. Apparently, this area was settled around the turn of the 20th century to farm and to ranch. There's some history online if you go here. It's a remote, tiny community. I took the usual photo of the elevator which shows it in total isolation.

It seems only fair that I also include a photo from further away to show that it is not entirely by itself and does have some life around it.
This is the nature of living in much of Saskatchewan--wide open spaces with much distance between neighbours. There is a sense of togetherness, nevertheless, as their very survival depends on helpful neighbours.

Kyle, SK

We came across another wooden grain elevator that is still standing and in use. It's in Kyle, Saskatchewan. This hamlet has a population of around 400 residents and is situated in the southwestern part of the province. It was a sunny day when we drove through this June (2013). We stopped long enough so that I could grab a few photos. It was a relief to see that another one of these prairie icons is still standing in Saskatchewan.

Birsay, SK

We made a point of exploring some less driven roads in Saskatchewan this past June (2013) and came upon some grain elevators we hadn't seen before--like this one in Birsay. This hamlet near Lucky Lake, SK has a population of about 45 residents. It strikes me as amazing that the grain elevator still stands in this secluded section of the province. When I took this photo it was evident that the elevator was still being used. Wonderful!

White Bear, SK

We just made another trip to Saskatchewan and found some more elevators to add to the collection. This one in White Bear, Saskatchewan, is not easy to get to as it's on a gravel road. The elevator is listing badly and looks like it could fall down at any moment. It represents the dying off of wooden grain elevators. In spite of the decrepit condition of this elevator, it makes a great photo. I've added some effects to accentuate the lines and the vast blue sky.