At one time there were over 5,700 wood grain elevators (also called prairie giants) on the prairies. Today there are about 850. Take one more off the list; the Marquette, Man. elevator was demolished Sept. 4.
More photos of the demolition on my blog at http://cprailmmsub.blogspot.ca/2013/09/another-prairie-giant-bites-dust.html
John Longhurst, Winnipeg
I’ve also heard the term “prairie skyscraper” applied to grain elevators.
Durn shame. Heck of a photo, though.
Stu
John,
Even the, ‘‘Leaning Tower’’ of Pisa,does not lean that far,[:-^]
Nice catch,on the photo shot…
Cheers,
Frank [bow]
That’s rather surreal looking… Dan
It might be an interesting scene to try to capture on a modern midwest layout. [:O]
They built it strong for it to hold together like that during the demolition with it falling over at thal angle intact.
“Prairie Sentinel” is another name they are given. A few years back while having to make some trips through Alberta and Saskatchewan we left the multi lane highways and opted for the back roads. Covered hundreds of miles doing that. It was like stepping back in time.
It tugs at the heart strings when I see another one bite the dust. Many have been consumed by fires over the years and they are becoming a rare sight.
Thanks for posting.
I remember driving trucks of grain to one of these as a teenager, didn’t even need a licence as long as you parked outside the building and let someone else drive it in.
That’s a crazy awesome photo.
Growing up in Saskabush we referred to them a simply “elevators”
TATAN’S,
Where the heck,is Saskabush,I’m guessing,Canada…[?] Been a lot of places,in Canada and Quebec, never come close,to hearing that one…
Cheers,
Frank
Family came from there, were close to Leader.
TATAN’S,
Thanks,Had a feeling,that was it,didn’t know for sure…[:)]
Cheers,
Frank