Painting to begin on historic Sexsmith elevator

Efforts to preserve a major piece of Sexsmith’s heritage are taking another big step forward this week, at a cost of $211,000.

The Sexsmith and District Museum Society is having the Alberta Wheat Pool elevator painted, though the society anticipates future stages of preservation may be stalled by COVID-19.

“Unfortunately, we’re stagnated a bit because of COVID, but we’re very excited to be doing the painting,” said Flo Blais, the society’s elevator project leader.

Despite the painting moving forward, the society’s fundraising has halted due to the pandemic and this may slow future preservation, she said.

The society has actively campaigned to raise funds since residents voted in 2017 not to use tax money for the project, 266 to 236.

Blais said the society has raised $150,000 so far, not including grants.

Last year, Heritage Roofing conducted the roof restoration, marking the first phase of preservation.

Painting is the second phase and the third phase will see an extensive cleanup of the interior.

The cleanup is intended to remove dust and debris and will significantly decrease the fire hazard, according to Blais.

Sexsmith’s second last grain elevator was destroyed by fire in January 2015. The current elevator was built in 1961, according to the society.

Blais said the painting will be performed by Kris Jennings, who was expected to arrive in Sexsmith from Manitoba earlier this week.

The society chose Jennings because he has experience painting elevators in Manitoba. He will also be cost-effective because he can complete both the painting and siding replacement, she said.

The society originally estimated painting would cost $220,000, not including siding replacement, and Jennings will paint for $183,000 and replace the siding for $28,000.

Jennings and his crew will perform these tasks by using chairlifts, Blais said.

She explained the elevator’s current paint job is deteriorating and the paint is supposed to protect the cedar, which is starting to rot.

“There are a lot of boards there that are very costly once you begin replacing them,” she said.

The rot is taking place mostly on the west side of the elevator, with 232 square metres needing replacement, according to Blais.

The $211,000 budget for Phase 2 of preservation is made possible by $50,000 grants from Alberta Culture and Tourism, the County of Grande Prairie and the Rotary Club, she said.

Blais added the society will contribute $60- to $70,000 from its raffles and donations, going toward painting, siding replacement and window restoration this year.

A raffle planned for this year was derailed by the pandemic, so Blais said the interior work planned for 2021 may not happen until 2022.

The society is also planning a dine and dance this fall, but she noted the society doesn’t know if they’ll actually be allowed to hold it.

Another thing the society may do is sell cribbage boards for $75 apiece that when folded up, look like elevators, she said.

The cribbage boards will be built by Alf Mielke, who used to work on an elevator in Sexsmith, Blais said.