BIENFAIT POOL ELEVATOR #733

Located on a siding off the CPR line.
On the North East corner of Railway Ave and Aldridge St.
In 1915 this was the
 Interior Elevator Company Elevator
In 1931 this Elevator was the Co-op Elevator.

 At least by 1932 this Elevator became the
Saskatchewan Co-operative Wheat Producers Ltd. Elevator
or informally the Saskatchewan Wheat "Pool" Elevator
as shown above


Letter showing earnings
of my grandfather Gus Gesell
at this Pool Elevator
1932-1939

1915 map showing this Pool #733 / Interior Elevator Co. Elevator
Capacity I believe the old map says 30,000 Bushels
#101 on Block 100
They also had another building at #107, Block 100

Interior Elevator company was originally the Royal Elevator Company,
owned by N.M. Paterson and Company, out of Thunder Bay,
who bought this elevator and 13 others,
and the Interior Elevator Company name was formed.
In 1920 this Elevator became the
 N.M. Paterson and Company Elevator.
In 1950, N.M. Paterson and Sons Ltd. Elevator
Norman Paterson, born 1883 in Portage La Prairie, MB
died in 1983.  This company still operates
run by Normans' descendants.
Date of Sale to the Pool of this elevator, unknown
but before 1965 as in the pictures above.
Below is a Receipt from this Elevator, dated Jan 20, 1942,
from my grandfather, Percy James Gent
He got $29.90 for just over 55 bushels of No3 wheat.

I remember a little boy going here with a small truck full of grain.
It fascinated me then, and they still do.
Shame they are not preserved.
Trains built the West, but Grain kept them running!
In Bienfait's case, Coal Shipments also I guess.

 

There was another Elevator in Bienfait,
complete with a Milling Machine.
shown on this 1915 map across from
the King Edward Hotel.
Also located on the CPR line.
It was called
 Lake of the Woods Milling Co. Ltd. Elevator
It had a capacity of 30,000 bushels
and was #125 on block 100.
next to it, to the west was their flour warehouse
#123, block 100.
They also had another building at #131, Block 100

1915 map showing Lake of the Woods Milling Co Ltd Elevator

The Five Roses Cookbook (1913) came from this Company,
still being produced, and still one of the best.
It is a kitchen MUST have!
The Company Began in Keewatin Ontario,
 in 1888 per the museum there.
 (1887 in another source)
It was privately owned.
They owned many Elevators in Saskatchewan by 1911,
so this one was built before then, is my guess.
When it was removed is unknown to me.
Where building #131 is shown, is where the caboose
on the M&S train display would be sitting.

Mr. Ken John worked at this Elevator as 2nd man
According to his story, he even painted this elevator at one time
 

There now appears there was a Third Elevator
located just east of the CPR Station,
about 650 feet East of Young st.
Name of this elevator is unknown at the moment.

My Grandfather Gus Gesell was the Elevator Man
in the Pool Elevator from 1932 to at least 1939.
I have his Brass Grain Test Rod today.
It is 2 tubes of Brass with a hard wood handle on one tube
You turn the tubes to close the oblong holes and then 
he would push this into a wagon of grain.
It would then be pulled out and then with a half turn
of the 2 tubes he could see each section of the test
sample, as there is now a visible hole every 4 or 5 inches.
This would stop someone from putting an
inferior grade of grain at the bottom of the wagon
but being paid for top grade passed on the top layer.
Today they sample the load as it is being dumped
and a scoop is taken every so often.
The size of the trucks used today, this tester
would not not reach 1/4 into the load.
Pictures of this tester below
it is about 3 1/2 feet long
and 1 1/2 inches in diam. approx

Grain Tester used in the Bienfait Elevator
by Gustav (Gus) August Gesell
my  mother Helen Gent's father,
and my Grandfather

Misc. Documents relating to the Bienfait Pool Elevator ca 1938/39
My grandfather Gus Gesell was Elevator man at this time.