Friends of Grain Elevators

Timeline

Thunder Bay Grain Trade

Thunder Bay’s industrial grain trade history begins in the late 19th century when the Canadian Pacific Railway drove its first spike in Westfort.  The completion of the railway from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg in 1882 catalyzed the Lakehead’s rapid elevator construction, beginning with the CPR’s first terminal in Port Arthur. This timeline tracks the major events in Thunder Bay’s grain history from the early “boom years” through the industry downturn and into the modern era of terminal operations.

  • 1875

    First spike driven for the CPR

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    Men join hands over the track in Westfort, in the district of Thunder Bay, at the spot where the first spike of the CPR was placed in 1875

  • 1882

    Completion of the CPR line to Winnipeg

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    After completing the route from Thunder Bay to the Winnipeg, the CPR extended their transcontinental lines through to the West Coast, finishing in Eagle Pass, British Colombia in 1885. The first train to Winnipeg left Thunder Bay on July 7, 1882.

  • 1882

    First grain shipment arrives to the Lakehead

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    The first grain from the Prairies arrived while the CPR Port Arthur terminal was still under construction. It was held in temporary storage in Fort William and was later transported by rail to Port Arthur.

  • 1883

    The ship Erin takes first bulk load of western Canadian grain

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    This ship, The Erin, carried the first shipment of western Canadian grain out of Thunder Bay, before the first elevator was built. The 54-metre ship headed south on Lake Superior with--by some reports--an estimated 300 tonnes of wheat, all loaded with shovel and wheelbarrow from the Marks dock in Port Arthur.

  • 1883

    First elevator built in Port Arthur

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    CPR built the original wooden elevator on the property where a concrete elevator stands today,  just north of Prince Arthur’s Landing. Popularly known as the King or Horn elevator in the early days, it ended its useful life as Manitoba Pool 2.

  • 1884

    First railcar unloaded at CPR elevator

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    On May 1, 1884, car #1194 unloaded the first boxcar load of wheat into the CPR terminal. The event’s date and car number were recorded on one of the elevator’s loading spouts.

  • 1884

    CPR builds the first of a series of elevators in Fort William

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    CPR Elevator A is built on the west bank of the Kaministiquia River, ushering in the golden age of grain shipments from Fort William.

     

  • 1885

    First bulk load of grain leaves a Fort William Elevator

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    Two stories exist for the first shipment of grain taken from a Fort William Elevator. In the first, the Sligo loads 17,000 bushels of wheat in the spring, but its captain refuses to go upriver to the elevator, so the ship has to load indirectly in the harbour. In the second, the Algoma loads an unspecified amount of wheat directly from the elevator after dredging occurred in the Kam River.

  • 1888-1889

    CPR Elevator B completed

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    CPR expands its Kam River grain handling capacity with the building of Elevator B at the foot of Victoria Avenue in Fort William's business district.

  • 1890

    Elevator C is added to the CPR elevator collection

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    Elevator C is built near Elevator A, acting essentially as an annex for the other elevator. The 3 CPR elevators built to this date on the Kaministiquia had a capacity of over 3 million bushels.

  • 1897

    The first steel elevator, CPR D, opens for business

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    This elevator was built on the bend in the river on land that once held John McLaurin’s trading post. CPR D would go on to become the longest standing CPR elevator on the Kam River, changing names to the Northland and the Westland D in its lifetime.

  • 1898

    CPR Elevator in Port Arthur becomes Canada's first hospital elevator

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    With the addition of grain drying equipment, the CPR Port Arthur terminal becomes the first “hospital” elevator in Canada. The equipment allowed the terminal to process wet and damaged grain to increase its value and avoid waste. Many later terminals on the waterfront followed this practice.

  • 1901

    Construction begins on the Canadian Northern Elevator

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    This elevator, the first terminal not owned by the CPR, was built by the Canadian Northern Railway. By the elevator's completion in 1902, the CNoR also finished its own rail link between the port at Winnipeg. Eventually two workhouses, A and B, serviced the bins that housed 9.5 million bushels at this elevator.

  • 1902

    Disastrous fire at CPR D

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    Despite claiming the steel tanks at Elevator D were fireproof, these bins and most of the elevator completely burnt to the ground in 1902--only the boiler and the engine house were saved. A replacement elevator was built in 1903.

  • 1902

    The last of the CPR-run elevators, Elevator E, rises on the Kaministiquia

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    Like Elevator C, Elevator E is built as an annex to B and operated with the other terminal as a single unit.

  • 1903

    First use of concrete slipform construction in the Lakehead

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    The CPR constructs 9 new concrete annex bins on their Port Arthur terminal using the newly developed slipform technique. This marked the first use of concrete slipform at the Lakehead and the first successful use of concrete slipform ever (previous attempts in the US either cracked or crumbled).

  • 1904

    The Empire Elevator opens at the mouth of the Kam River

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    The Empire was the first non-railway-owned elevator, built by a western Canadian company of the same name.

  • 1904

    CPR Elevator B burns

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    The elevator burns completely to the ground. The blaze can be seen throughout Fort William. The terminal is promptly rebuilt.

  • 1904-1905

    The Ogilvie Elevator and Flour Mill is built

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    The terminal and mill were built by the Ogilvie Company, a Montreal-based syndicate. The flour mill was the first of its kind in Fort William. The terminal was later purchased by Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in 1963 and renamed Pool 8.

    First Phase of Ogilvie Elevator in early 1900s

  • 1905

    First sod turned for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway

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    Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier turned the first sod on September 11, 1905.

  • 1906

    CPR Elevator D wooden workhouse burns down

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    The CPR D's newly reconstructed workhouse burns to the ground. This ill-fated elevator went through several catastrophes in its early years, even being nicknamed “The House of Mysteries” by the Daily Times Journal.

  • 1906

    Kaministiquia power plant built

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    Generating power from Kakabeka Falls, this plant was essential for the growing number of elevators and manufacturers setting up at the Lakehead.

  • 1906

    Ogilvie bins slip into the Kam River

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    On May 26, 1906, the storage bins slid 50 feet off of their foundation into the Kam River, spilling hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain. Reports of this disaster appeared in newspapers across the nation and in the US. The bins were rebuilt farther from the river and remain as part of the elevator today. Eventually the elevator became Saskatchewan Pool 8 and later Riverside Grain.

  • 1906

    Brown Street pedestrian bridge constructed

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    This bridge, built over the CPR rail yards at the foot of Brown Street, connected the nearby Westfort grain community to the elevators along the Kam River. The bridge allowed workers to safely cross the tracks without having to navigate busy rail traffic on the ground.

  • 1907

    Consolidated Elevator's first unit opens

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    Just upstream from Elevator D, this elevator was built as two distinct units—the first of tile, the second in 1911 of concrete. Some sources have the first unit being built in 1904. The elevator began operations June 4, 1907.

    elevator in the winter with some snow and slightly icy port

  • 1908

    Construction begins at Grand Trunk Pacific Elevator

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    The Grand Trunk Pacific Elevator, another railway-owned terminal, was the first to be built on the south shore of the Kaministiquia River across from Mission Island. The elevator began receiving grain in 1910.

  • 1909

    Western Terminal construction begins

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    The first workhouse and silos were built upstream from Consolidated. Eventually 4 additions joined the original structure.

  • 1909

    The Thunder Bay Elevator is built

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    Thunder Bay Elevator was erected in Port Arthur in what came to be known as Intercity. It was the first of a long string of elevators that would follow in this neighbourhood in short order.

    elevator and stack in black and white in the port

  • 1909

    Lake Shippers Clearance Association opens its Fort William office

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    LSCA is formed by grain shippers to streamline grain shipments out of the port. LSCA ceased operation in 2012.

  • 1910

    Black & Muirhead Elevator opens for business

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    This elevator was built on the Kaministiquia, upstream from the James St. bridge. It was the first of three elevators that would sit within the man-made river turning basin. The company built the elevator to replace an inland terminal sold to Davidson & Smith.

  • 1910

    Construction begins on the Jacknife Bascule Bridge

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    The bridge, completed in 1913, connected the CPR to Mission Island.

  • 1911

    All CPR D steel tanks replaced with concrete

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    After a string of fires and small explosions, the CPR replaces all of Elevator D’s steel bins with concrete. The elevator will increase its capacity again in 1913 to become the largest elevator in the world for the time.

  • 1912

    Creation of the Canadian Board of Grain Commissioners

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    The Canadian government establishes the Board of Grain Commissioners after passing the Canadian Grain Act that same year. The weighing and inspecting departments of this institution worked with terminal elevator operators to ensure the quality of Canadian grain. In 1913, the group established their office in the historic Chapple’s building. Later, this organization would be called the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

  • 1913

    Dwyer Company ships grain from its elevator on Mission Island

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    The elevator is built across the river from Ogilvie and is later taken over by the Gillespie Grain Company. The Dwyer caught fire in 1924 and closed, making the Gillespie Company move their operation to Port Arthur.

  • 1913

    The Canadian Government Elevator is built in Port Arthur

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    In response to farmers’ demands, the federal government constructs and operates this Intercity elevator. Later it will become McCabe’s Elevator, and later still, UGG M house. Operations began on October 16, 1913, after final construction was supervised by C.D. Howe.

    dominion of canada black and white image

  • 1913

    The Fort William Elevator opens

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    David Horn, who managed the CPR elevator in Port Arthur, joins with Nicholas Bawlf to build this elevator on the Kam River, starting construction in 1912. The terminal took its place between the Consolidated and Western Terminal.

  • 1913

    Construction completed at Canada Starch Works Elevator

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    The elevator, designed for corn rather than wheat storage, is constructed on Mission Island. The plant made glucose, syrups, and corn oil, but didn’t make starch for its first few years of operation.

     

  • 1914

    Davidson & Smith Elevator built in Intercity

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    Davidson & Smith moved its business from Fort William to the Intercity area with the opening of this elevator. Manitoba Pool eventually takes over in 1934 and renames the elevator Pool 1.

  • 1914

    New record for fastest annex construction

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    The Black and Muirhead’s storage addition broke the record for fastest annex construction, taking only 37 days to complete with 50 men.

  • 1916

    Paterson Elevator O is built

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    Primarily a hospital elevator, this terminal was the second elevator built by Paterson at the Lakehead—the first was an inland terminal, Paterson K. The initial wooden structure built adjacent to James St. bridge was destroyed by fire in 1926 and rebuilt in 1927.

  • 1916

    Union Terminal Elevator is built

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    Built by Grain Growers Grain and later called Alberta Pool 9, this elevator was the first to appear in the Current River area of the Port Arthur harbour.

  • 1916

    Thunder Bay Elevator handles the most valuable car of grain

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    The boxcar from Hanley, Saskatchewan held 2,108 bushels of 2 Northern grain worth $3,882.75. Today, the car would be worth $84,203.52.

  • 1916

    Electric Elevator built on the turning basin

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    The terminal joins the Black & Muirhead in the Kaministiquia River turning basin. Three units were eventually built, with the last addition in 1926.

  • 1917

    Northwestern Elevator goes up on the turning basin

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    The Northwestern is the final elevator to go up on the turning basin. Expansions are completed in 1919, 1922, and 1924.

  • 1917

    Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator 4A and 4B built

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    The first of the farmer owned elevators, Elevator 4A takes its place in Current River, followed by the connected Elevator 4B in the next year.

  • 1917

    Western Grain Elevator constructed on Western Terminal lot

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    This hospital elevator was operated by a different company (Western Grain Company) until later amalgamating with Western Terminal Company in the late 1920s and operating as one.

  • 1918

    Eastern Elevator built

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    The Richardson subsidiary, Eastern Terminal Elevator Company, builds its own elevator in Current River after leasing Elevator A and C from the CPR in Fort William. The terminal would later change names to Richardson Main.

    black and white image of elevator with ship docked

  • 1919

    Workhouse B of the Canadian Northern Elevator goes up in flames

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    The fire creates minor losses, as no machinery was in the workhouse nor wheat in the bins. The workhouse is rebuilt and expanded in 1920.

  • 1919

    Black & Muirhead Elevator burns down

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    This elevator is totally destroyed and not replaced. Firefighting efforts were put into saving the two nearby elevators also on the turning basin, the Electric and Northwestern.

  • 1920

    Electric Elevator makes news for speedy unloading of hopper-style railcar

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    The new style of rail car held 3,025 bushels and was unloaded in 12 minutes. In comparison, a boxcar holding 1,100 bushels would take 12 and a half minutes and required at least 2 men to unload. Though hopper cars were developed this early in the century, they wouldn't become the dominant type of rail car for grain shipping until the 1970s.

  • 1921

    Northland Elevator Company leases CPR D, renaming it to Northland D

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    The company, made up of Searle Grain, Federal Grain, and International Grain, used the facility primarily as extra storage for Searle and Federal in bumper crop years.

  • 1922

    The Superior Elevator is built in Intercity

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    Eventually, Parrish and Heimbecker renamed this elevator the P&H. The original terminal had only 6 bins. Extra storage was added in 1927 and 1961.

  • 1923

    Gillespie Grain Company takes over operation of the former Dwyer Elevator

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    Unlike many of the companies which had head offices in Winnipeg, the Gillespie Grain Company was headquartered in Edmonton.

  • 1923

    Concrete structure replaces old CPR elevator on the site of the first elevator in Port Arthur

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    The wooden workhouse was replaced and additional concrete bins were added to form the building that stands today. As the terminal was now farther away from the original dock, a loading gallery was also built to reach the water.

    black and white port and elevator in background

  • 1923

    The Bawlf Elevator is built next in Intercity

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    This elevator is the mirror image of The Stewart Elevator. Several units are added over the years, including a malting house. Later the elevator becomes Canada Malting.

  • 1923

    The Stewart Elevator is built

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    This elevator was constructed at the same time as the Bawlf. They are mirror images. Federal Grain later purchases the elevator, and later still, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool adds it to Pool 7 as Pool 7B.

  • 1923

    Marine leg added to Paterson terminal

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    The marine leg, able to unload grain from ships into the elevator, is the only of its kind in the Lakehead until Pool 7 is built in 1928.

  • 1924

    Reliance Elevator opens in the Intercity area

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    After leasing terminals around Thunder Bay, Reliance Grain Company finally builds its own elevator. The elevator later became Manitoba Pool 3.

    reliance before the addition

  • 1924

    Fire at Northwestern destroys workhouse

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    Despite the damage, the elevator was able to continue shipping and cleaning in the annex while the new workhouse was constructed.

  • 1926

    Flames destroy Paterson Elevator O workhouse

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    The wooden workhouse was completely destroyed. A new, expanded structure was promptly built in 1927.

  • 1927

    UGG A breaks record for fastest terminal construction

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    The Current River terminal began construction on May 31, 1927, and operations began December 15, 1927. UGG operated this elevator for several years until mergers took place. The company later became Agricore and then Viterra. After being left for years in disuse, the elevator is now owned and operated by Richardson.

    black and white image of elevator
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  • 1927

    CPR A and C jointly demolished

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    Fire hazards, the large land lot, and the lack of use were cited as issues leading up to the demolition.

  • 1928

    Fire destroys Gillespie Elevator on Mission Island

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    The company chooses not to rebuild, and moves their business to Port Arthur by buying the CPR terminal in 1930. The concrete silos remain standing on the Kam River until demolished in 2013.

  • 1928

    Saskatchewan Pool 7 is built

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    The elevator's construction gives Intercity its full complement of elevators. The terminal was completed in one stage, becoming the largest single unit terminal in the world. Construction breaks the recent UGG A record for fastest build by two months: construction began on May 14, 1928, and operations began October 15, 1928.

  • 1928

    Construction begins on the Searle Elevator

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    Built beside the Grand Trunk Pacific Elevator, this was the last elevator built in Fort William and the last full terminal built in the Lakehead. The elevator currently operates as G3 Terminal.

    black and white image of elevator on the port

  • 1930

    Fred Bole goes to prison and the Electric Elevator closes

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    Bole, the head of Electric Elevator Company, is convicted of falsifying elevator warehouse receipts in order to receive government subsidies. Electric Elevator is sold and becomes the Phoenix Elevator the next year. The Phoenix operates for only one year before closing the elevator again.

  • 1930

    Union Terminal catches fire

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    The workhouse on Union Terminal -- previously UGG H -- catches fire and burns to the ground. The blaze causes $200,000 in damages and is promptly rebuilt. In the coming years, Union Terminal will change ownership to Manitoba Pool Elevators and then Alberta Wheat Pool, becoming Pool 9 under both companies.

  • 1936

    Fire destroys new workhouse at King’s/Gillespie

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    The new workhouse, built in 1923, is completely destroyed. C.D. Howe designs and reconstructs a new workhouse by 1937.

  • 1940

    Wartime storage houses appear around the waterfront

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    Fifteen large wooden storage houses are built to house grain pouring in from the prairies that have no market outlets during WWII. After the war they were all dismantled, but the concrete slabs foundations for many are still visible.

    birds eye view of city with relevaotr and lake on the bottom right side of black and white image

    Long wooden warehouses on the left side of the image show wartime storage facilities near Eastern Elevator in Current River

     

  • 1940

    Electric Elevator reopens under McCabe Grain

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    McCabe Grain Company reopens the closed Electric/Phoenix on the turning basin, renaming it McCabe C. In 1946, the terminal will change names again to the Lakehead Terminal A.

  • 1945

    Explosion at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool 5 in Port Arthur

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    Twenty-two workers are killed in this tragic explosion, caused by ignited screening dust that traveled through the terminal. The elevator is rebuilt in 1946.

  • 1947

    CPR B and E dismantled

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    After dismantling, the parts for B and E are sold for scrap. CPR D becomes the last standing CPR elevator in Fort William.

  • 1951

    Federal and Richardson jointly purchase CPR D

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    The companies operate under Westland Elevator Company Limited, renaming the elevator Westland D. The venture revitalizes the terminal's operations after recent slow years.

  • 1952

    Second explosion at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator in Port Arthur

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    6 workers lose their lives as Pool 4A elevator explodes. Dust control finally becomes a serious concern. Mandatory safety regulations are created for dust control in the 1970s.

    black and white image of the elevator overall after explosion. the inner building has fallen inward

  • 1957

    Construction of Canada Malting additions

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    Canada Malting expands its operations with a new germinating building, kiln building, office building, and substation, giving it a distinct look among the other Lakehead terminals.

  • 1959

    United Grain Growers annex slips into Lake Superior

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    A small tidal wave is created as the silos slip off the foundation into the lake. The silos are rebuilt and reopened in 1961.

  • 1965

    Lakehead elevator sold to Federal/Searle

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    Searle and Federal Grain jointly buy the turning basin terminal. The elevator becomes Searle B. After only 4 years, the elevator will burn to the ground in 1969.

  • 1966

    Empire Elevator sold to Saskatchewan Wheat Pool

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    In their next takeover, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool buys the Empire Elevator and renames it Saskatchewan Wheat Pool 12.

  • 1969

    Richardson operates Paterson ‘O’ as Richardson ‘B’

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    As Paterson operations dwindle, Richardson leases the Fort William terminal to use as extra storage for its low-demand grains.

  • 1970-1971

    Empire Elevator’s wooden workhouse burns down

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    The workhouse was one of two original wooden terminal structures still standing in Thunder Bay. A year after the fire, the Empire’s concrete bins are also demolished. This event records the first use of dynamite for grain elevator demolition.

  • 1971

    Saskatchewan Wheat Pool buys Fort William Elevators

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    Adding to their collection of South End elevators, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool buys Consolidated (now Fort William Elevator E) and Fort William Elevator F, renaming them Pool 11 and Pool 10 respectively. Consolidated/Pool 11 will close down soon after in the late 1970s.

  • 1972

    Saskatchewan Wheat Pool buys Westland D and Searle Terminal

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    Saskatchewan Wheat Pool operates Westland D as Pool 17 for two years before closing the terminal for good. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Manitoba Pool Elevators jointly takeover the Searle Terminal, and the terminal is renamed Pool 15.

  • 1976

    Pool 9 demolished

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    Previously known as UGG H, the terminal was operated by Alberta Wheat Pool at the time of its demolition. Manitoba Pool Elevators also operated the terminal as Pool 9. Richardson later built a pellet plant on this elevator site.

  • 1977

    Elevator operations cease at Pool 2

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    Manitoba Pool Elevators closes the historic terminal and dismantles the loading galleries. The concrete replacement for Thunder Bay's first terminal remains standing to this day.

  • 1977

    Dust control installations begin across the waterfront

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    New safety regulations make dust control improvements mandatory. The costly updates will force many smaller terminals across the waterfront to close down.

  • 1977

    Northwestern Elevator listed as demolished

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    No exact date is known for when the turning basin elevator met its demise.

  • 1978

    Paterson Elevator demolished

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    Unable to afford dust control upgrades after recently completing costly foundation renovations, Paterson Elevator is forced to close. The demolition is drawn out over the winter months and into the next year.

  • 1980

    Richardson terminal painted orange and yellow

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    To match the branding of their Pioneer Grain country elevators, Richardson paints their terminals both in Thunder Bay and the West Coast a bright shade of orange and yellow.

    red elevator with ship docked and snow covering the frozen lake

  • 1980

    Demolition begins at Saskatchewan Wheat Pool 5

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    The four units that once made up Western Grain’s operations are all demolished. Only the concrete slabs from the elevator’s wartime storage remain.

  • 1983

    Ogilvie/Pool 8 has their best shipping year ever

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    The terminal ships a whopping 606,000 tonnes over the 1983 year. Only four years later, the elevator will cease its grain operations.

  • 1983

    Pool 10 becomes Western Grain By-Products

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    Pool 10 gets new life after repairs in the late 1970s, reopening in 1983 as Western Grain By-Products and handling primarily niche, small-lot grains. The new Western Grain becomes the last operating elevator on the Upper Kam, closing only in recent years.

  • 1987

    Riverside Grains reopens part of Ogilvie

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    Riverside Grains briefly reopens the terminal and mill before closing again. A fire in 2001 leaves the elevator permanently closed and will lead to calls for the structure's demolition.

  • 1996

    Thunder Bay Elevator wooden workhouse demolished

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    The last original wooden workhouse in Thunder Bay meets its end. The concrete silos remain standing.

  • 1998

    Agricore Cooperative is created

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    Manitoba Pool Elevators and Alberta Wheat Pool merge to form a larger company in order to stay competitive in the grain industry. Around this time, Manitoba Pool 3 terminal closes on the waterfront.

  • 2001

    Agricore United is created

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    United Grain Growers buys the joint Manitoba Pool Elevators and Alberta Wheat Pool co-operative to create the larger Agricore United.

  • 2007

    Saskatchewan Wheat Pool buys Agricore United

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    After a bidding war with Richardson International, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool successfully buys Agricore United. The company changes its name to Viterra. Eventually, global conglomerate Glencore purchases Viterra and still operates its facilities on the waterfront.

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