The Estevan area lost two more old grain elevators recently.
The old construction in Estevan at the Richardson Pioneer site went down. At the same time, the Macoun community said good-bye to their landmark.
Macoun resident Kelly Foord, who witnessed the demolition process, said he likes the change, but it was sad to see the historic site gone.
"It served its time, it served its purpose, it was time for a change," Foord said. "It was a sad day for Macoun, but yet it was a good day (as) change in the landscape is good sometimes."
It took about a week to prepare everything, and on June 28, in about an hour, the Macoun elevator was knocked down.
A crowd gathered on Main Street and on the side of the elevator when the final steps were taken. Many people also were pulling over on the highway to watch an impressive process. Some viewers were emotional as the landscape was changing and opening up. Some of them used to haul grain there back in the day.
And Foord was curious to know who would be the last person who used the pool elevator.
"I was talking with a few people, and it would have been interesting to find out who actually hauled the last load of product in there while it was still a pool elevator," Foord said.
If you are also interested in finding out who hauled the last load to the Macoun pool elevator, please email the Mercury at [email protected] with the date of the last time you or someone you know delivered grain there.
The Macoun elevator was a part of the community for many decades. Originally owned by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, and then purchased by a private family, it hasn't been in use since it was flooded in 2011.
"What happened is a large amount of water got in there and destroyed lots of it, so they couldn't use it after that," Foord said. "They did plan on using it but they had to abandon it because of structural damage and just the cost of redoing it."
Foord has many memories related to the old elevator. He also remembered that many years ago there was one death at the Macoun elevator.
"A young boy got trapped in there and suffocated in the grain," Foord said.
"Kids used to play around there. And he just got into the grain and grain is kind of like quicksand. Once you start into it, if it's too deep, it will suck you right in."
The site cleaning was nearing completion last week, and Foord said the owners were doing a great job with the demolition from the beginning to the end.
"They're doing an excellent job of cleaning it up. We like the way they are cleaning up, there is no mess, no debris flying around, they are taking care of it very well," Foord said.
He assumed that the owners will eventually put some grain bins up where the elevator used to be.
There are a few other older structures still standing in Macoun, such as the Town Hall, CP house and some private houses that are now left to preserve the history of the community.
A future edition of the Mercury will have more on the Pioneer elevator demolition.
