The old water tower - 1927 Photographer unknown - Manitoba Agricultural Museum.

22 April 2013

Ag Museum's Heritage Sites
to Undergo Repairs

Austin Manitoba - Two of the largest artifacts at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum in Austin will soon receive some needed repairs.
 
Brad Froggatt, chief museum officer and curator, says both the old water tower and the grain elevator could use some work, noting they're at the age where they need to have the roofs re-done.
 
Froggatt says having these artifacts designated as heritage sites will help the museum get some money for the repairs, but they'll likely have to seek funding from other areas as well.
 
He adds in order to maintain the historical integrity of both buildings they will have to use a specific type of cedar shingle for the roofs.
 
Froggatt says the water tower is an octagonal building which originally stood beside the railway line in MacGregor, noting in the early days of course all the railway engines were steam.
 
He says the tower is huge and in its day held about forty thousand gallons of water, with an interior tub made of huge chunks of cedar.
 
Froggatt adds the entire building is made of wood, so for it to have lasted this long is really quite a remarkable feat.
 
He says the grain elevator is also made primarily of large pieces of wood, with separate bins for separate types of grain.
 
Froggatt notes the elevator is in very good shape internally, not withstanding the roof, and visitors to the building can get a really good idea of how everything would have worked.
 
Sasha Kalis.

The old water tower today - Date/Photographer unknown.

Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada