Bellis Home Grain Co Elevator
Many towns in Western Canada had at least one grain elevator along the railway tracks, some towns had up to 5 or 6. Elevators such as this one allowed farmers to sell their grain into the world grain market and earn income. The elevator companies bought the grain from farmers and then sold it out to market.
Grain elevators are named for the process of using an engine-driven system to elevate the grain into storage bins. Grain travels from the dump pit under the floor all the way to the top of the elevator. The grain was moved using a large belt with cups on it that would pick the grain up. At the top of the elevator a chute directs grain into one of the storage bins.
When the elevator had enough of one type of grain to fill a rail car like the one beside this elevator, the engine system would again be used to move the grain from the bins into the rail car. Filled cars were moved by the railway to larger centres for further shipping, a process that still happens in much the same way today.
