Apr 19, 1907
Here we see the business development already in Bienfait
Note- the One Grain Elevator is listed now.

 

Aug 20, 1907
Now is this the 2nd one?  or one mentioned above?
Northern Elevator Co builds 30,000 bushel
grain elevator in Bienfait

Oct 4, 1907
Now we know there was 2, no name for the first one though.

Nov 6, 1907
Now they have the elevators,
they have no Rail Cars to load it in.
Both Elevators are full,
and wagons coming loaded with wheat,
were expecting to load coal for the trip home.

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 No 3 wheat.

name appears to me as C. O. Dew, Elevator Operator

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.

In my dad Phil Gent's history notes, he states in 1928
in his spare time from the farm work,
he hauled stones for the foundations of
the United Church, the Anglican Church, the first Catholic Church,
and the Pool Elevator

Agent, Feb 5, 1947 was a Mr. A. T. Smyth.
His son Roy George Smyth, an employee of M&S
was killed that day, age 21, by a loaded coal car.
He was a motorman on an underground electric trolley
used to haul cars to the main shaft to be lifted up to the surface
He served in the Canadian Army in WWII overseas
and was discharged ca 1946

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

Arthur Hugh Graham,
b- Feb 11, 1889 in Russell ON
d- ?
Manager of the Lake of the Woods Elevator,
as well as Overseer of the Village in the 30's.
He controlled the relief payments in the village
during the depression era.
He was also a School Trustee
Art Graham bought an old school
He was the First honorary member of the Bienfait Legion
served in WWI, Reg #256927
living in Sedley SK when he enlisted, Jan 10, 1918 in Regina
Occupation Grain Buyer, Single, Presbyterian
Father- Hugh Graham
living in Russell ON in 1918

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.

Mr. E. A. Brown
Superintendent "A" Division,
Saskatchewan Pool Elevators
Have not been able to find any info on this man

Letter signed by D. R. Lamont,
dated June 13, 1939 and July 24, 1939
Assistant Manager, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

Daniel Russell (Russ) Lamont
b-  Nov 24, 1888, on family farm near Melita, RM of Brenda,  MB
d- July 23, 1960, age 71, on a street in Regina SK
buried in Riverside Memorial Park, regina
He retired July 31, 1954, as Manager of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
after leaving school he worked for his father in the mill in Melita.
Later joined Lake of the Woods Milling company as a salesman.
In 1917/18 he joined the Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Company Ltd.
1925 became manager of their Saskatoon Office
transferred to their Regina Office, and made Assistant Treasurer.
In 1926 he continued in his job,
when the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool was formed,
as their Assistant Treasurer.
Official name- Saskatchewan Co-operative Wheat Producers Ltd.
shortly after this he became the Pool's Chief Accountant.
1937 he became Assistant Manager.
1950 he became Manager

His father operated one of the first flour mills
in Western Canada at Melita MB.
He came west from Owen Sound, ON in 1882

Father- Thomas R. Lamont
b- Mar 16, 1861 in ON
Baptist, Miller in 1901 census
Mother- Jennie McDonald
b- Nov 13, 1861 in ON

Mr Russ Lamont was an Elder in the Carmichael United Church in Regina
Later transferred to Westminster Church, became an Elder there.
He was an active Mason
married with 3 daughters,
lived at 3071 Retallack St., Regina SK

Russ had 2 brothers,
Cecil Alexander Ralph (Cyril?) Lamont, Winnipeg, MB
b- Jan 3, 1901 in RM of Arthur, MB
President of North-West Line Elevators Association, ca 1956
served in WWI, reg #1084413

Roger Royaston (Roy) Lamont, Napinka, MB
b- Dec 9, 1892 in RM of Wincester, MB
d- Oct 18, 1966 in Melita MB
Served in WWI, Reg # 259123
Agent for Manitoba Pool Elevators, 1942-1962

and 2 sisters,
Mrs. Annie (Olivia) Whaly, CA, USA
b- Dec 2, 1890, MB

Mrs. Winnefred (Winnifred?) Grace (Winnie) Leguee, Dahinda SK
b- Dec 20, 1895, RM of Wincester, MB