This Gallery is a lucky accident in some respects.

In September 2011, I was driving to Calgary to my uncle's wedding.. It was getting late and I was shooting elevators along the way. The last elevator's I shot that day were in Mortlach. I had almost lost all daylight by the time I reached Parkbeg. I figured no big deal I'd get it on the way back, I should get to Medicine Hat and get to my motel... Boy was I wrong... 5 days later I am on the way home, I'm getting close to Parkbeg and wondering what the hell, where is the elevator?!

I pull into the sleepy village, to see two Case Trackhoes making short work of the foundation of the elevator. I get talking to the contractor on scene and he tells me what they have done, and also mention's that they were moving to Mortlach to Demolish the former Saskatchewan Pool that Paterson owns, once they were done in Parkbeg. So that weekend I comeback, and with my luck I miss it falling by 3 minutes....I see fellow friends from Alberta and Shaunavon SK have arrived to watch as well. The agent of the remaining Paterson Elevator is there and shows us around the elevator, and allowed us to go up to the top and shoot from the top elevator.

Fast forward to July 2013, I am headed back East to Manitoba after touring Southwestern Saskatchewan.. I stop in Mortlach to get some updated pictures... It's around 6:30 in the evening, but the doors are open and someone is there. I poke my head in and start talking the agent working inside. Turn's out he is cleaning out the elevator, just waiting for the final truck to arrive to take out the last load of mustard seed. The siding that once served three elevator's, hold less then 20 hopper cars, to small and slow by modern standards to operate efficiently. Once that truck arrives and is loaded, the elevator will be closed and is slated for demolition that fall.

November 2014, I ran out to Alberta after receiving word that the Warner Alberta elevator row has had some of it's remaining elevators demolished, on the way back I stop in Mortlach. I learned through residents that the remaining elevator was used over the winter when grain shipments were sparse from CP. The elevator currently sits in a state of constantly delayed inexorable death..

Stay tuned for updates...