Next we sauntered out to Virden
Just a short 45 minute drive West on Highway #1
This region of Manitoba is rich with oil (discovered in 1950) and a number of
historical churches and buildings done in this lovely stone
Here we have the Canadian Pacific Railway Station
Built in 1900

   

A lovely example of the restored dwellings from the 1900's

St. Mary's Anglican Church
'a Great example of fieldstone construction' taken from the top of the Assiniboine River Valley
Built in the late 1890's

Row from the front

Row from the abandoned rail line at the back

For more information about Inglis and the surrounding area
go to
www.inglismanitoba.com

Original diesel engine / room located in the attached Annex
I love the tin wall coverings that were stamped with maple leaves

We decided to take a guided tour and although Glen and I have seen
many grain elevators over the course of our lives neither of us knew much about
the inner workings
If I remember correctly this wheel operates the wooden box (single person elevator) to the basement and to the top of
the grain elevator.
 

Notice the way they built these structures?
'The main storage structure was constructed of dimensional lumber that, for strength,
was stacked or "cribbed" with overlapping corners.'
The elevators at Inglis are considered all Standard Plan: Medium

Imagine being the grain agent...climbing this ladder to 50 to 60 feet in height?!
Either this way or the truly claustrophobic 'wooden box' your choice 

Inglis boasts the five dominant grain elevator companies that have stood the test of time
Above photo shows the Twin Reliance elevator
This is one of the smaller elevators built in 1922 by Matheson-Lindsay
"Double elevator complex in the middle of the row"
The lower side building housed the agent's office on the upper level and the diesel engine
on the lower level. Being replaced by an electric motor in 1949. The two buildings were joined by a catwalk

Here I am standing in front of the United Grain Growers (UGG)
Elevator
'UGG built the first elevator at Inglis in 1922. It was replaced in 1925 after fire destroyed the original. Fire
is a constant concern because of the dry wood in the building and the highly combustible grain'

As some of you may know Glen and I had the kitchen gutted in the early Spring last year. I am telling you this as renovations of this magnitude take a fair amount of money. Therefore we did not travel very far from home in 2017. We did however take a number of wonderful day trips out to some of the small communities in and around Brandon such as Virden, Elva, Margaret & Inglis which is famous for its surviving Grain Elevator Row and is a National Historic site. We've always talked about visiting there but for some reason didn't get around to going. If you have ever wanted a lovely prairie drive where the sky seems to go on forever may I suggest the trip. The town of Inglis is 1.5 kms East off Highway 83 approximately 19 kms North of the town of Russell. After visiting Inglis be sure to take the short drive to where 'the scenic Assiniboine River Valley and the Shell River join' at the Shellmouth Dam to form the Lake of the Prairies.
  Please enjoy South Western Manitoba with the following photos...

Supper and a show

4 minute video of some Cambodian dancing
I hope it comes through okay
Glen and I left early from this late night activity, we were simply too tired to fully appreciate
the show
We start our long journey home tomorrow
Thank you Daaling
The tour was simply amazing!