**Note: Visitor’s will have to explore the Midland Town docks to find the 4 plaques at this location.
Midland’s potential as a gateway for grain entering eastern Canada was seen as early as 1898. The Town House elevator was the first to be built by the Grand trunk Railway, in 1896, and was followed by The Aberdeen, Tiffin and Simcoe elevators. Grain coming from the Canadian west was taken by train to Thunder Bay. From there it was shipped to Midland by boat and unloaded into one of 4 elevators where it then entered eastern Canada by train or boat. 99.9% of the grain went by rail. The industry thrived until transport subsidies were lifted in 1991. Now only the Midland elevator, owned and operated by ADM Mills, survives.
Grain Ships unloading at Midland’s first elevator, Town House.
The Simcoe Elevator stood on the shore across from the Midland Town Dock.
The demolition of the Simcoe Elevator.
The Aberdeen Elevator, up the shore from the Tiffin Elevator. Photo by J.W. Bald.
The Town House Elevator burned to the ground in 1904.
In this aerial view we can see all four Elevators in Midland. Tiffin Elevator in the foreground, Aberdeen further up the shore, the current Midland Elevator in the top left, and the Simcoe Elevator in the top-middle of the photo. Only the Midland Elevator remains.
Construction of the current Midland Elevator (view from the back), still standing and in use in Midland Harbour. Owned by ADM Mills.
The Grand Trunk Railway Elevator Extension, serviced by train.
Early photo of the current Midland Grain Elevator (now owned by ADM Mills), and the Copeland Flour Mills. Photo taken by local photographer J.W. Bald.
Construction of the Tiffin Elevator in 1908 emphasizing the concrete pouring and positioning of the grain silos.
The Tiffin Grain Elevator in Midland, taken October 15, 1908.
Huronia Museum 
This is an amazing picture – one that I have never seen before – although before my time, I well remember playing around both the Aberdeen and Tiffin elevators (and tobogganing down that Tiffin slope). Any idea when this photo was taken and by whom as well as the name of the cargo vessel at Tiffin in the picture.
If you let me know exactly which picture you were wondering about I can certainly find out for you.
Sorry, it’s the sixth picture in the sequence captioned “In this aerial view we can see all four Elevators in Midland. Tiffin Elevator in the foreground, Aberdeen further up the shore, the current Midland Elevator in the top left, and the Simcoe Elevator in the top-middle of the photo. Only the Midland Elevator remains.”
Sorry for being vague!
Viktor
That is no problem at all. I will look into and get back to you soon!
Liked the picture with the Tiffin elevator in the foreground. Used to play there also. Crossed the tracks many times from Olive St. to get to the waters edge. Went around many a boxcar to get there. If I am correct the CNR roundhouse was near the Tiffin elevator. Saw it from wireless hill. Would love to see pictures of it. In the days when Midland was a working harbour my uncle ” Frank Contois” fished in the waters just off Tiffin elevator. Thanks for the memories!
My hometown. My dad’s brother Steve Contois used to work there years ago.
Can you tell me how high the current elevators are? I can’t find it anywhere
Dan
the concrete structure was 90 ft and the superstructure was approx. 16ft high with a sloped roof the load out structure on the west side of the elevator was 180ft high (90ft concrete,90ft steel) this would be the tiffin elevator. I have some photos of the demolition that took place in the mid 90’s
ADM Midland Elevator is 7 floors, each floor is approx 18ft in height. i work there.
Sorry, Flour mill is 7 floors.
Just above the Tiffin elevator in the shot of all four is the oft-ignored CNR roundhouse. It seems very few photos exist due to its location. Development had erased all signs of it now
My great grandfather Alfred Henry Robins / Robbins died at an explosion at the Aberdeen Elevator in 1944…Does anyone have any other info on this event?
Many thanks,
Katy Francis
Mine also died in that accident – H Berriault. Came here while researching.
James, Harry Contois here. I REMEMBER YOU AND SISTER AMANDA. JUST LOOKING UP HISTORY TO GET FACTS STRAIGHT. CHECKING ARCHIVES RE ELEVATORS. SOME LIKE ABERDEEN AND SIMCOE I’D FORGOTTEN. SOMETIMES MEMORY PLAYS TRICKS. CAME ACROSS YOUR EMAIL. I’M ON FACE BOOK . LIKE TO CHAT . I’M ALL OF 80 YEARS OLD NOW. FAMILY SMALLER, 4 SISTERS, ONE BROTHER.
Hi Katy: Your great grandfather’s name was Alfred Robins and at the time of the Aberdeen explosion, he was 73 and living in Wyebridge. You can view a lot of information about the explosion including the front page of the July 12, 1944 edition of the Midland Free Press by joining my facebook group, Huronia’s Past and Present. Hope to see you soon join us on our voyage across the sea of history and through the mists of time! John
Having trouble finding how to get back to receiving updates of pictures from the 50’s and 60’s, If you can help my Gmail is earlaweyman@gmail.com Thank-you either way. Earl A Weyman
I went to oglvie’s , tiffin house, tiffin 2 and Simcoe elevators with my dad when I was a kid, his name was Bruce and he had a truck on with his brother Karl, Karl snider trucking. I have fond memories of that time I miss those days.
As kids we fished off the piers of all the elevators although the ADM was the hardest to get to. We used to go between the silos of the Aberdeen and hear our voices echo . On the weekend we could walk on top of the box cars parked on the rails waiting to be loaded at the Aberdeen & Tiffin ( without our parents knowledge of course) . The good old days.
My grandfather Septimius Lowes was the night watchman at the Simcoe elevator. During the Christmas season they would have many strings of colored lights hanging in the form of a Christmas tree
a very impressive sight from the town docks