Grain Elevators

Historical Grain Elevator Row Unveiled June 2026

These signs, gifted to our community, offer a meaningful way to reflect on our history while experiencing these spaces as they are today.

Elevator Walking Tour (1907–1948)

This Elevator Walking Tour explores an important period in Penhold’s history, from 1907 to 1948.

Your journey begins at the south end of Fleming Avenue, named after the Fleming family, on whose land Penhold was founded. This section of the avenue ends at the T-intersection with Grey Street.

Grey Street was named in honour of the 4th Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada from 1904 to 1911. During his tenure, Alberta and Saskatchewan entered Confederation. A strong supporter of national unity, the arts, and sport, Earl Grey donated the Grey Cup in 1909, establishing the championship trophy for Canadian football.

As you begin walking north along Fleming Avenue, look to the west side of the avenue. The large blue building occupies the site where the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) section foreman’s house stood after being relocated there in 1928 from its original location farther north on Fleming Avenue. Also located on this site were a CPR scooter shed and a bunkhouse for railway section workers.

As you continue north, imagine a much different streetscape than you see today. The east side of the avenue remained largely undeveloped as far as Aberdeen Street, with the exception of the Anglican church, built in 1910 at the corner of Windsor and Aberdeen Streets. Local teenagers occasionally constructed makeshift sheds in the area using scrap lumber and grain elevator "bin boards" that were used to secure grain-loaded boxcars.

Just before reaching Aberdeen Street, look west toward the railway tracks. Here stood the CPR’s earth-banked unloading platform, designed to allow loading and unloading directly at boxcar floor level.

Aberdeen Street

You are now approaching the intersection of Aberdeen Street and Fleming Avenue.

Aberdeen Street was named after Lord Aberdeen, the 7th Earl of Aberdeen and Governor General of Canada from 1893 to 1898. During a period of political transition, he and Lady Aberdeen travelled extensively throughout the country and helped transform the role of the Governor General into one that represented all Canadians rather than simply the Crown.

Lord Aberdeen was known for his philanthropic work and was made an honorary chief by both the Six Nations and Blackfoot peoples. Lady Aberdeen founded the National Council of Women of Canada and played a key role in establishing the Victorian Order of Nurses.

As you stand at the intersection, picture the activity that once filled this area. A short distance west were the CPR stockyards. Beginning in 1946, the east side of the area was home to the community skating rink, which extended north to the south boundary of the Memorial Hall grounds.

Your First Elevator

Continue north along Fleming Avenue.

You have now arrived at the first elevator on the tour, where you'll begin exploring the grain industry that helped shape Penhold's early growth and development.

Click on the items below to learn more about each elevator

Alberta Pacific Grain Co. Ltd.

You are now standing at the site of Penhold's first grain elevator.

Built in 1907, just three years after the town was incorporated, the Alberta Pacific Grain Co. elevator had a capacity of 30,000 bushels. For its first six months of operation, Tom Stewart of Stewart Brothers served as acting agent.

As grain production increased, the original elevator became too small. A larger, modern elevator was built immediately south of the original structure before the old building was removed. Around the same time, the CPR expanded its stockyards nearby, across from what is now the Memorial Hall parking lot.

One of the elevator's best-known agents was Sam Nelson, who served from 1924 to 1940. Beyond managing the elevator, Sam operated a Massey Harris dealership, sold radios, served on Town Council, and even spent a term as Mayor.

Imagine the excitement of Christmas Eve, 1937. Earlier that evening, Sam had been dressed as Santa Claus at the community Christmas concert when news arrived shortly after midnight that the elevator was on fire. The building was destroyed on December 22, 1937.

The elevator was rebuilt in 1938 and reopened the following June. W. Bugler, agent from 1940 to 1946, became well known locally for tying fishing flies as a side business.

As a Federal Grain elevator, the structure remained in operation until 1972, when it was destroyed by an arson-caused fire. This time, it was not rebuilt.

United Grain Growers (UGG)

You have now reached the intersection of Minto Street and Fleming Avenue.

Minto Street was named after Lord Minto, Governor General of Canada from 1898 to 1904. During his career, he served as a war correspondent, military officer, Governor General, and later Viceroy of India.

Built in 1917, the United Grain Growers elevator was Penhold's second grain elevator. As farming expanded, an annex was added to the south side in 1927 to increase storage capacity.

One of the elevator's longest-serving agents was Sid Wardle, who managed the facility from 1936 until his retirement in 1954. By 1970, UGG had purchased the neighbouring National elevator, and both elevators were operated by a single agent.

The original UGG elevator was demolished in 1980 after falling into poor condition. The National elevator remained in operation until 1998.

A Different Kind of Recreation

As you look along Elevator Row, imagine the scene in the late 1940s and early 1950s as crews replaced the elevators' cedar-shingle roofs.

For local boys, the discarded shingles became ammunition. Shaped into arrows and launched with homemade slingshots, they could reportedly soar over the tops of the 80-foot elevators. By all accounts, it was great fun—and remarkably, no one was seriously injured.

Coal and Hard Work

Coal sales were an important part of elevator operations. Coal sheds stood beside several of the elevators, supplying fuel for homes and businesses throughout the community.

In the early 1950s, local teenagers were hired to unload 40-ton railcars of coal by hand. The pay? Fifteen dollars, split three ways. It was hard work, especially when unloading large lump coal, but railcars had to be emptied quickly before demurrage charges began.

Purity Oats (Western Canadian Flour Mills)

Before building an elevator in Penhold, Purity Flour & Feed already had a presence in the community through its retail operations.

Its elevator was constructed in 1924, becoming another landmark along Elevator Row. By the 1950s, ownership had changed, and the structure was eventually removed.

As you stand here today, consider one of the more surprising features of the site. The roadway crossing the railway tracks passed between the elevators, and along the north side sat Imperial Oil fuel tanks and fuel storage sheds.

By modern standards, placing gasoline and oil storage between massive wooden grain elevators seems unthinkable. Grain dust, dry timber, and fuel created a significant fire risk. Fortunately, despite a few close calls, major disaster was avoided.

Continue north to the intersection of Lucina Street and Fleming Avenue.

Lucina Street was named after Lucina Fleming, wife of George Fleming, one of Penhold's founding residents.

Alberta Pool Elevator

Constructed in 1928, the Alberta Pool elevator was the last elevator added to Elevator Row. Its construction required the relocation of the CPR section house and modifications to the railway siding.

Originally planned for a site north of the National elevator, it was ultimately built to the south instead. The result? Fuel tanks became tightly sandwiched between two large wooden grain elevators.

What were they thinking?

The Alberta Pool elevator operated for more than four decades before being destroyed by arson in 1972. It was rebuilt in 1973 but suffered another devastating fire in 1980, this time caused by an overheated bearing. The elevator was not rebuilt.

During the 1980 fire, a water bomber based at Red Deer Airport made several passes over the burning structure, dropping water in an attempt to slow the blaze. It was an unforgettable sight for local residents.

National Grain Co.

The National elevator was built in late 1926 and became one of the most recognizable structures on Elevator Row.

In 1970, it was acquired by United Grain Growers and became the last operating elevator in Penhold. Upgrades included larger scale facilities and additional steel storage bins.

On August 28, 1998, the final elevator was demolished, bringing an end to nearly a century of grain elevator operations in Penhold.

As the structure collapsed, a cloud of grain dust drifted across the surrounding fields, sending photographers scrambling for cover and marking the end of an era in the community's history.

Elevator Agents Row

Before leaving Elevator Row, take a moment to imagine life here during the mid-1900s.

Along nearby Windsor Avenue stood the homes of the elevator agents and their families. These households were an important part of community life. The agents worked closely with local farmers, served on community organizations, volunteered in local events, and helped shape the growing village.

With schools, churches, shops, service stations, community events, and a highway connecting Calgary and Edmonton, Penhold was considered a desirable posting. For many elevator agents and their families, it was a wonderful place to call home.

Emma Street

Just north of the elevators is Emma Street, named after George and Lucina Fleming's daughter, Emma.

Interestingly, an early 1924 fire insurance map mistakenly identified this street as Pine Street—a small reminder that even historical records don't always get everything right.