Formerly located at the southeast corner of Sutherland Avenue and Powers Street [no longer a public road], adjacent to the Canadian Pacific Railway yard, in Winnipeg, a 145,000-bushel grain elevator containing 49 internal bins 50 feet deep, was built in 1895 for the Northern Elevator Company. The foundation was subcontracted to the Kelly Brothers and the elevator itself, made of wood covered with corrugated iron, was built by contractors Gordon W. Meldrum and John L. McDougall. They were assisted by the Barnett & Record Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
To the west of the elevator was a one-storey brick building that housed 150 horsepower engines. Provided by the Waterous Engine Works, the engines operated the elevator, providing power for its belts, signal bells, speaking tubes, and electric lights.
The elevator was served by two railway tracks, one from the west for entering cars and one to the south for the loading out branch, to allow the facility to unload a car, clean, and scour and sort the grain at a rate of 10,000 bushels per hour. The elevator officially started receiving grain on 2 November 1895.
The elevator was destroyed by fire on 10 March 1917 and its former site has been incorporated into the surrounding railway yard.
Fire insurance map showing the Northern Grain elevator at Winnipeg (April 1901)
Source: The Northern Elevator Co. Ltd., Winnipeg, Man., April 1901, Library and Archives Canada.
Cross-section of Northern Grain elevator at Winnipeg (April 1901)
Source: The Northern Elevator Co. Ltd., Winnipeg, Man., April 1901, Library and Archives Canada.
Northern Grain elevator and powerhouse at left (1903)
Source: Winnipeg Telegram, 30 May 1903, page 32.
Postcard view of CPR yard and Northern Grain elevator at right (circa 1910)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2018-0134Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91043, W97.14733
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Manitoba Business: Kelly Brothers / Manitoba Construction Company / Kelly Brothers and Mitchell / Thomas Kelly and Sons
Manitoba Business: Northern Elevator Company
“Elevator for Winnipeg,” Manitoba Free Press, 7 May 1895, page 6.
“Elevator to be built at once by the Northern Elevator Company,” Winnipeg Tribune, 27 May 1895, page 1.
“Another big elevator,” Manitoba Free Press, 15 June 1895, page 6.
“Local brevities,” Manitoba Free Press, 22 June 1895, page 8.
“City and general,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 June 1895, page 6.
“Contract let,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 July 1895, page 6.
“The new sorting elevator,” Manitoba Free Press, 20 August 1895, page 8.
“At Salter Street,” Manitoba Free Press, 22 August 1895, page 8.
“A frightful fall,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 September 1895, page 6.
“New sorting elevator,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 September 1895, page 6.
“The new elevator,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 October 1895, page 8.
“Local brevities,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 November 1895, page 8.
“New buildings,” Manitoba Free Press, 17 December 1895, page 18.
The Northern Elevator Co. Ltd. Winnipeg, Man., April 1901, Library and Archives Canada.
“Northern Grain Co.’s elevator at Winnipeg,” Winnipeg Telegram, 30 May 1903, page 32.
“Loss of $200,000 in elevator fire,” Manitoba Free Press, 10 March 1917, page 1.
“St. Boniface grain elevator in ashes,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 December 1917, page 1.
Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.
We thank Gordon Goldsborough for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.
Page revised: 1 December 2024
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