Historic Sites of Manitoba: Federal Grain Elevator / Manitoba Pool Grain Elevator (Centennial Siding, RM of West St. Paul)

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

A 55,000-bushel elevator at Centennial Siding, on the CPR Winnipeg Beach Subdivision in the Rural Municipality of West St. Paul next to the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg was built by Federal Grain in 1967. It was sold in early 1972 to Manitoba Pool Elevators which operated it for the next 18 years. On 17 May 1990, a fire destroyed the elevator along with $50,000 worth of sunflower seeds, canola, and flax. An investigation determined it was the work of a 21-year-old serial arsonist who worked in the elevator. He was sentenced to a year in jail and two years of probation. Threatened with closure back in December 1988, due to insufficient throughput, the elevator was not rebuilt.

Agents / Buyers

Period

Agent / Buyer

1967-1972

?

1972-1973

Q. M. Klassen

1973-1974

Colin G. Granger

1974-1981

Charles Duane Anderson

1981-1988

Dennis Monchalin

1988-1990

?

Photos & Coordinates

The former Federal Grain elevator at Centennial Siding

The former Federal Grain elevator at Centennial Siding (circa 1970)
Source: Agricore United Engineering Department, Tom Price (Mgr), provided by Glenn Dickson (University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections)

The former Federal Grain elevator at Centennial Siding

The former Federal Grain elevator at Centennial Siding (1972)
Source: Agricore United Engineering Department, Tom Price (Mgr), provided by Glenn Dickson (University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections)

The former Federal Grain elevator at Centennial Siding

The former Federal Grain elevator at Centennial Siding (1972)
Source: Agricore United Engineering Department, Tom Price (Mgr), provided by Glenn Dickson (University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections)

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.97461, W97.08306
denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

Manitoba Pool Fonds, S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University.

“Pool elevator closings raise farmers' anger,” Winnipeg Free Press, 14 August 1988, page 8.

“Elevator battle looming,” Brandon Sun, 15 August 1988, page 3.

“Blaze destroys grain elevator,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1990, page 2.

“Fires cause $1.5-million in damage, man charged,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 August 1990, page 4.

“‘Impulsive’ arsonist gets year for blazes,” Winnipeg Free Press, 17 July 1991, page 3.

We thank Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, Mike Lisowski, and Glenn Dickson.

Page revised: 15 January 2022

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