Tag: Holmfield Manitoba

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HARRISON MILL AND GRAIN ELEVATOR

Many years ago I wrote about my afternoon in Holmfield wherein we wandered around this old mill and its outbuildings. Yesterday I went back to look for some old trucks and get a photograph of the old truck parked at the mill.

The Harrison brothers arrived in Manitoba in 1878. They built a mill in another location which was by-passed by the railway so they sold their mill and moved to this location.

The brothers were very successful operating a flour mill, a workshop and ran a lumber business at this location. The lumber business was phased out in 1972. The mill was first run by steam, then diesel engines in the 30’s and finally electrical current in 1947. The facility is believed to be the oldest mill in Western Canada.

The operation closed in the 1990’s and is still owned by the family.

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BANK OF TORONTO VAULT

In 1919 the Bank of Toronto built a wood frame building. Inside the building was a solid brick structure with a heavy iron door. This structure served as the bank’s vault. Three years later the bank closed so the building was repurposed and used post office and then a residence. In 1991 the building was demolished except the vault, which is now a historic site in this small town. Inside the vault is a small desk and chair and a guest book for visitors. On top of the vault is the bell from the town’s school.

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MESSNER GENERAL STORE

This old store was opened in 1886 by businessman Frank J. Messner. In addition to selling merchandise to the surrounding community, he also served as the local postmaster from 1901 to 1919. When Mr. Messner retired in 1919, he sold the store to William Collis who operated it for the next 57 years. In 1976, Mr. Collis sold the store’s contents at auction. It was later restored to the way it looked originally and is now used as a museum.

On this day we were lucky enough to get a personal tour of the building.

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This was a real experience and a whole lot of nostaglia for my shooting partner.  As a boy he remembers coming to this store with his Dad to purchase supplies for his family farm.  What a treat to be able to go back in time with him and listen to his stories about this store, being in the building, standing at the counter, sitting at the little bench drinking a Coke and being there with his brother and his Dad.  It was neat to know that some of those things have always been in the building.  That some things never change. I know that he won’t like that I’ve posted a photo of him, but being inside these buildings with someone who has experienced what is inside first hand is part of the excitement.

Thank you Reg, for taking me back in time with you and sharing this with me.  This was special.

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If this building is ever open for a tour, I recommend you go.