Gretna

The Gretna, MB grain elevator, July 2014. Contributed by Steve Boyko.
The Gretna, MB grain elevator, July 2014. Contributed by Steve Boyko.

The Gretna grain elevator is a former Manitoba Pool elevator. It was owned by JRS Commodities and has a capacity of 6,800 tonnes.

The Manitoba Pool roundel on the Gretna grain elevator. Contributed by Steve Boyko.
The Manitoba Pool roundel on the Gretna grain elevator. Contributed by Steve Boyko.

The elevator is composed of two grain elevators and an annex. One of the elevators is turned sideways and used as an annex. Gretna has no rail service but used to be on the CP Gretna subdivision.

Gretna Grain Elevator History

Ogilvie #8 grain elevator in Gretna, 1890.
Ogilvie #8 grain elevator in Gretna, 1890.

The first grain elevator in Gretna was the Ogilvie Milling Company’s #8 elevator, the first “standard plan” grain elevator in the West, built in 1881 with a capacity of 40,000 bushels. The photo at right features the elevator as well as the McBean Brothers elevator (built in 1884) in the distance.

The Ogilvie elevator burned (along with much of Gretna) on April 28, 1913.

Other grain elevators that were in Gretna include:

  • A small 8,000 bushel capacity “flat” elevator built or acquired by Henry Ritz between 1905 and 1908
  • A 30,000 bushel capacity elevator built by Henry Ritz in 1916 (operated until 1983)
  • McCabe/Victoria grain elevator built 1906
  • Lake of the Woods grain elevator, built 1888, once the oldest elevator in Manitoba
  • Farmer’s Elevator, built 1899
  • Dirks’ brothers elevator, 35,000 bushels

In 1897 the Winnipeg Grain and Produce Exchange listed six grain elevators in Gretna (capacities in bushels):

  1. Ogilvie Milling (44,000);
  2. McBean Brothers (30,000);
  3. Lake of the Woods Milling Company (20,000);
  4. R.P. Roblin (25,000);
  5. J&J Livingston (10,000); and
  6. Body & Noakes (7,000).
Gretna prior to 1910, showing the Henry Ritz elevator and CPR station.
Gretna prior to 1910, showing the Henry Ritz elevator and CPR station.

The last carload of grain at the Pool elevator was loaded into CP 124002 on July 22, 1996 and the elevator was closed at the end of that month.

The grain merchant Henry Ritz had a large operation in Gretna. In 1992 the Henry Ritz & Co. complex was for sale, with two grain elevators and various other buildings, including the former train station.

Henry Ritz grain elevator "A" in Gretna, July 1992.
Henry Ritz grain elevator “A” in Gretna, July 1992. Copyright by Donald Hamilton.
Henry Ritz "B" grain elevator in Gretna, MB, July 1992.
Henry Ritz “B” grain elevator in Gretna, MB, July 1992. Copyright by Donald Hamilton.

Greg McDonnell wrote a a great essay on the Gretna grain elevator in Wheat Kings: Vanishing Landmarks of the Canadian Prairies.

The Gretna, Manitoba grain elevator, July 2014. Contributed by Steve Boyko.
The Gretna, Manitoba grain elevator, July 2014. Contributed by Steve Boyko.

Many thanks to all the contributors to Gretna: Window on the Northwest which was the source for much of the historical information on Gretna’s grain elevators.

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