Kuroki

Kuroki, SK grain elevator. Contributed by Mark Zulkoskey.
Kuroki, SK grain elevator. Contributed by Mark Zulkoskey.

There is one grain elevator in the small town of Kuroki, Saskatchewan. It is the former Saskatchewan Wheat Pool grain elevator, now owned by Ziola Farms.

The elevator consists of a larger elevator, a smaller elevator used as an annex, and two steel bins. The smaller elevator appears to be a former Federal grain elevator.

Kuroki, Saskatchewan grain elevator. Contributed by Mark Zulkoskey.
Kuroki, Saskatchewan grain elevator. Contributed by Mark Zulkoskey.

History

The first grain elevator in Kuroki was built in 1928 and operated by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

Kuroki Pool grain elevator, August 1994.
Kuroki Pool grain elevator, August 1994. Copyright by Donald Hamilton.

The Pool built a new elevator in 1961 with a capacity of 114,000 bushels. It burned to the ground on October 17, 1973.

Kuroki Pool elevator burning, 1973 (top left); Alberta Pacific grain elevator (bottom left); Paswegin elevator being moved, 1976 (right).
Kuroki Pool elevator burning, 1973 (top left); Alberta Pacific grain elevator (bottom left); Paswegin elevator being moved, 1976 (right).

The smaller of the two current elevators was built in 1919 by Federal, and became the Pool “B” elevator. The larger elevator was originally built in Paswegin by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool in 1928, and was moved to its present site in 1976 after the Pool elevator burned.

Kuroki was founded in the early 20th century and was named for Kuroki Tamemoto, a hero of the Russo-Japanese War. The town has a Japanese garden.

Thanks to the book “Seems Like Only Yesterday, 1892-1980: The History of Kuroki and District” (ourroots.ca) for some details and the historical photos.

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