Note: Road Trip Memories is a series on Traveler Ahoy where I look back at the various things I’ve seen and done on past road trips.
I’m from Alberta. I’m used to wide open space, big skies, summer thunderstorms, winter blizzards, and grain elevators that stand up against the prairie sky. During road trips when I was a child these were the giant landmarks of a new town. Unfortunately many towns in the prairies have demolished their grain elevators, because keeping them up can be more expensive that they are worth. One my last road trip in Alberta and Saskatchewan I decided to take a few photos of the grain elevators I saw.
Redford, Saskatchewan from a distance.
Redford, Saskatchewan.
Lougheed, Alberta. This one isn’t operational, but instead functions as a museum. Unfortunately it wasn’t open when I was there.
Grain elevators of Killam, Alberta.
These photos make me wonder if there’ll be a time when grain elevators are completely outdated. When they’re all destroyed, and only found as pictures in history books. I hope not. I hope that some towns still preserve their grain elevators as a part of prairie history. On a long drive, with nothing but sky and flat golden fields around you, there’s nothing like seeing a grain elevator rising up from nowhere.
I’ve been to Redford!! I lived in Weyburn for a few months with Katimavik, and one of the other groups in our cluster lived in Redford! haha.
Jade Johnston – http://www.ouroyster.com
I didn’t even think Redford was a town – the grain elevator was in the middle of nowhere. And I’ve been to Weyburn too, although last time I was there I think I was five, so maybe it doesn’t count.
I think about that, too…changing rural landscapes and what might become of out of date agricultural buildings in the future. I enjoyed your reflections!
I’ve seen a lot of small towns get rid of their grain elevators in the last 10 to 15 years. I’m just glad some towns have decided to keep theirs. Thanks for the comment.
I like these photos! Thank you for posting. I’m afraid that you’re right about the grain elevators disappearing; happening here in the States, too
Thanks for the comment. It’s sad grain elevators are also disappearing in the States. I hope some communities will work to preserve their grain elevators.
Alouise,
Very cool piece…who would have thought grain elevators would be so charming?
Thanks Renee. The more I started to photograph the grain elevators, the more charming they became.
Very interesting. The pictures have a 1960s feel – and somehow remind me of the covered bridges. I hope some of the grain elevators will be kept as well.
Thanks for the comment Sophie. There are a couple towns in Alberta that have kept their grain elevators, so I hope that they won’t just be a thing of the past.
Great shots! It does feel like yesteryear…very nostalgic
Thanks for the compliment.
I love these photos! It always feels a bit bittersweet driving by structures like these that are starting to feel very.. yesteryear?
Thanks for the comment. I think yesteryear is the perfect term. Still there are a few towns that are preserving their grain elevators, which is always nice to see.