Spruce Grove Grain Elevator Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1995 |
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| Location | Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada |
| Type | Farm history, farmers market, museum. |
The Spruce Grove Grain Elevator Museum is a special place in Spruce Grove, Alberta. It used to be a working grain elevator that helped farmers store their crops. Now, it's a museum run by amazing volunteers from the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society.
This elevator stands right next to the Canadian National Railway tracks. It's the very last grain elevator you'll see when heading west on the Yellowhead Highway and along the CN railway line. It's like a giant reminder of how farming used to be!
Contents
Saving History: The Elevator's Journey
Grain elevators were once very common across Western Canada. In 1933, there were about 1,800 of these tall buildings. But over time, many were torn down. By 2003, only 389 were left, and that number kept getting smaller.
In Spruce Grove, there used to be three grain elevators. Sadly, two of them were destroyed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The last one was almost gone too! That's when the Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Society stepped in. They wanted to save this important piece of history.
The society bought the elevator from Alberta Wheat Pool for just $1. They also bought the land it sits on, which is about 1 acre, for $35,000. People in the community have been very generous. Their donations help the society keep the museum running and in good shape. For example, in 2012, community donations and government grants helped repaint the elevator for $70,000.
Community Spirit: The Agricultural Society
The Spruce Grove and District Agricultural Heritage Society is a group of dedicated volunteers. They do a lot for their community! One of their first big projects was building the Spruce Grove Agrena, which is still used today as a hockey rink.
The Ag Society also organized the Agra Fair for thirty years. This fair grew to be one of the biggest events of its kind in Western Canada! After the fair ended, the society started focusing on saving the grain elevator and the old town water tower.
The main goal of the Ag Society is to share the history of farming and the prairie region. They want to teach visitors about how agriculture works and how it shaped the area. It's all about promoting tourism and education.
Bringing Back the Past: The Water Tower
In 1957, a huge water tower was built in Spruce Grove. It could hold 41,000 imperial gallons of water! This tower stood tall at McLeod Avenue and Main Street. But in 1978, after Edmonton water came to town, the tower was sold and taken apart. For many years, it lay forgotten in a farmer's field.
Then, in 2010, the Ag Society volunteers rescued the water tower! They moved it to the grain elevator site. Volunteers, local businesses, and a kind donation from a local person helped start the restoration work. In September 2011, they began cleaning and painting the tank.
A local artist named James MacKay worked with the volunteers to create a special mural. This mural shows what Spruce Grove looked like in 1958. It was finished in October, adding a beautiful touch to the tower.
On November 8, 2011, the historic water tower was put back up in Spruce Grove. George Sewell, who helped with the project, told CTV News that it "brings Spruce Grove alive." He said that the town didn't have much that truly told its story, but now it does!
See also
- List of grain elevators
- List of museums in Alberta
