This site on the south bank of the Birdtail River, in Birtle in the Municipality of Prairie View, was once occupied by a flour mill that operated from 1890 to about 1913. Reopened in October 1925, it was destroyed by fire in the early morning of 12 March 1926, killing proprietor George Albert Dafoe. A concrete pillar and several large stones are all that remains of the facility. A commemorative sign was installed nearby in 2007.
Site of the former Birtle Flour Mill (March 2016)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Location (lat/long): N50.42431, W101.04354
denoted by symbol on the map above
“Birtle flour mill burns; G. A. Dafoe, owner, missing, believed buried in ruins,” Manitoba Free Press, 13 March 1926, page 1.
“Inquest is held on Birtle fire victim,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 March 1926, page 5.
“In memoriam,” Birtle Eye-Witness, 16 March 1926, page 8.
Death registration [George Albert Dafoe], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
We thank Ron Bell for providing information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 April 2017
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