Historic Sites of Manitoba: United Grain Growers Grain Elevator (Binscarth, Municipality of Russell-Binscarth)

Link to:
Agents / Buyers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

A wooden grain elevator and annex at Binscarth, on the CPR Bredenbury Subdivision in what is now the Municipality of Russell-Binscarth, was built in 1928 and operated by United Grain Growers. An annex was added in 1957. It was destroyed by fire on 8 November 1978, along with an estimated 30,000 bushels of wheat, oats, barley, and canola. A nearby fertilizer storage shed was saved by local firefighters and two boxcars next to the elevator were pushed out of danger by a tractor. At the height of the blaze, a freight train roared past the burning structure. There were no injuries but damages were assessed at over a half million dollars. The elevator was not rebuilt.

Agents / Buyers

Period	Agent / Buyer
1917-1919	C. Strachan
1919-1920	W. J. Longhurst
1920-1921	R. F. Graham
1921-1923	Sam A. Arbuckle
1923-1925	P. H. Griffiths
1925-1927	H. S. Crerar
1927-1936	Sam A. Arbuckle
1936-1937	F. E. Michaelis
1937-1967	George Matheson
1967-1975	L. Kruk
1975	E. A. Sims
1975-1976	Wayne Winters
1976-1978	Joseph R. Price

Photos & Coordinates

The former United Grain Growers grain elevator at Binscarth (1966) Source: Agricore United Engineering Department, Tom Price (Mgr), provided by Glenn Dickson (University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections) The former United Grain Growers grain elevator at Binscarth (1966) Source: Agricore United Engineering Department, Tom Price (Mgr), provided by Glenn Dickson (University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections) United Grain Growers grain elevator on fire (8 November 1978) Source: Henry Graham Site Location (lat/long): N50.62352, W101.28680 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Pool Grain Elevator (Binscarth, Municipality of Russell-Binscarth)

Sources:

“Blazes demolishes Man. grain elevator,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 November 1978, page 8.

Binscarth Memories by Binscarth History Committee, 1984. [Legislative Library of Manitoba, F5649.B55 Bin]

United Grain Growers Fonds, MSS76, Box 59 and 60 [Russell], University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Henry Graham, and Glenn Dickson.

Page revised: 3 May 2021

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