Scandia Eastern Irrigation District Museum

If you find yourself out near Brooks Alberta, turn south on Highway #36 just west of town and head on down to a little community called Scandia. They’ve got an extra special prairie-life themed open air museum there that you can take in. A vintage grain elevator and old train station are two highlights. Even if you visit in off hours or off season, you can still wander the property and take pictures (stuff some bills in the donation box when you do) – you just won’t be able to go inside buildings.

We explored the Scandia Eastern Irrigation District Museum (officially “Historic Park”) in April of 2018, so before they opened for the year. It was pure magic being on the grounds, which we had all to our ourselves, and outside the occasional gust of wind or the odd passing car, there was complete silence. Overwhelming stuff this, no mind blowing, connecting with the past, taking in these old structures and machines of metal and thinking about their history in a most intimate way and with zero distractions. That’s how we like it.

Scandia Eastern Irrigation District Museum: paying it a revisit. Some “Pop History” by Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd/Scandia EID Museum)

The most imposing structure on the “EID” property is the circa 1927 Alberta Wheat Pool grain elevator. It stands where built, just off the “downtown” main drag and is by far the tallest thing around. You can’t miss it! There’s a ton of wood in these “prairie sentinels”. This one is pretty typical of the era in both size and design. There was once a second grain elevator in Scandia, a former “Federal” later owned by the AWP.

Ford Edsel Interior

At the Eastern Irrigation District Museum, Scandia Alberta.

The mighty Pool was traditionally the largest grain handling firm in the province for much of its history (they owned hundreds and hundreds of rural elevators), that today is but a memory. The rail line here, a rural grain branch belonging to the Canadian Pacific Railway, came in from the north where it connected with the firms east/west mainline. It arrived roughly concurrent with the construction of the elevator. Think of all the countless boxcars of grain shipped out to far reaching markets around the world from this very building over its fifty years. Scandia was the “end of track” and except during grain rushes, service was at best a couple times per week. Traffic was never that heavy.

Scroll down for more photos and to comment.

The last train came and went about 1977 and the track soon afterwards pulled up. About this time the elevator was saved by a local group and has since been restored. It looks fantastic.

The little building out back housed the office and drive engine. The latter was kept separated from the main building due to it being a fire hazard (grain dust can be explosive). Metal cladding is also a mitigation measure. An elevator going up in flames could be disastrous. The few that did, burned spectacularly.

On a stretch of track out front on display is a stock car. Yes, farm animals used to move by rail – well into the 1960s in fact. This “double decker” is late model from the 1950s and would be used to handle sheep or hogs. Beef, however, most often travelled by rail only in similar looking single level cars.

Just up the tracks north of the elevator is the pens where they used to ship from. This is one of the last railway stockyards (called the Bow Slope Stockyards) remaining anywhere. Just like there used to be a grain elevator in most prairie communities, so was there a place to ship out cattle or other beasts. Every town also had a loading ramp – for incoming shipments of wood or farm machinery among others – and Scandia is no exception. It’s right next to the elevator but somehow escaped being photographed by us. Sigh, we miss stuff all the time.

Another notable building at the Museum is a train station moved in from the town of Jenner a bit to the north. It dates from circa 1913-1914 and came to the Eastern Irrigation District Museum a few years back around the time it was celebrating its 100th birthday (shout out to Warkentin Building Movers). Oddly, the Team remembers passing through Jenner many times back before this all came down, but never recalled seeing the building. Our heads were up our bums I guess… We’ve searched far and wide to find a photo of Scandia’s original station, but have come up short.

A row of buildings represents a small town street. It’s just feels right! There’s a service station with an old globe pump, a general store, a blacksmith (every town had one) and various businesses and residences. Over there’s a barn, and that way, the old river ferry that once crossed the Bow River to the south (there’s a bridge there now).

Row after row of old vehicles are on display, some out in the open, others under roof. Cars, trucks and lots of old farm machinery are all seen. There’s the infamous Ford Edsel, circa late 1950s, a car that was heavily hyped when introduced but was not well received by the general public. Ford took a huge loss on the design selling less than half of what they hoped for. Ugly was just one complaint. About 7.5k of them were built in Canada, of the approximate 118k produced in total, making them here in this country rather rare overall. The front end looks like puckering lips.

An old Ford Truck from the late 1960s keeps it company. The old man had one just like it.

Over there, an old Federal Truck from the 1920s (a rare beastie), a fire truck in retirement and the Green Meanie, a 1940s ere Chevy Pickup painted up in bold colours. Tractors from many makes, International Farmall, Deere, among others, are seen including the less common (Canada anyway), Minneapolis Moline. Yellow was their “company colours”. Over there’s a combine from Cockshutt. This firm was once a dominate maker of farm machinery in the country, but now, you’ll only see their products at museums or in the hands of collectors. An American competitor bought them out in the 1960s and shut them down soon after (a smart way to gain entry to a market and eliminate competition at the same time).

There’s a real old car perhaps your Gramps or Great Gramps drove. Not sure the model, and boy is it beaten up and missing a lot, but wow, the nostalgia on seeing it. Many old wagons are seen. Back then, these might be used to haul grain to market, perhaps the very grain elevator seen here, horsepower of the real kind providing muscle to keep the wheels moving. Oh, how things have changed…and in less than a century.

On Railway Avenue (once again, every town had a one) opposite the museum is an old church. It’s not part of the EID display, but looks like it could be. It’s still used from time to time for services. It adds an interesting dimension to the photos.

We wander more and the day flies by. There’s so much to see and we came no where close to capturing it all. And anyway, why should we? We want you to to have some new discoveries and see things we didn’t before, should we pay it a revisit. Anyway, we spent a good two hours here…and didn’t want to go.

The Eastern Irrigation District Museum was founded circa 1976. They don’t seem to have a website that we could find. Contact us if you’re connected to the group and tell us more. And if you want use of these photos, at no cost of course, we can arrange that too. We can send them larger and in higher-resolution.

On the way out, a look down 3rd Street at the elevator. We could be time travellers, this view perhaps taken in the 1920s with the world’s economy booming and hope and promise in the air. Or the 1930s with the life sucking depression in full swing. Or the 1940s, with War on everyone’s mind. Or…

The scene is timeless!

Scandia today is home to some about a hundred and fifty people and is a sleepy little backwater community. Flashback to when founded (in the 1920s recall) it was a much busier – the prairies were happening then!

By the way, if you want to stay for a day or two, there’s a campground at the south end of the Museum Property with space for many RVs. That’ll give you plenty of time to take it all in at the EID.

CPR Stock Car

Back when animals moved by rail.

On the way home we doddle. In the town of Bassano, not terribly far away, an old Hotel, the “Imperial Hunter”, a place we’ve been itching go into for a cold one for some time, but always seem to be in a rush and can’t stop. Next time. Then there’s that old International Truck seen. Gotta stop for old trucks you know!

We hit up Scandia before…
Scandia Alberta.

More open air museums…
Wandering the Alberta Railway Museum.
Shandro Village (closed for decades).
Draglines and Shovels – Reynolds Alberta Museum (Monster Earth Movers).

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: April, 2018.
Location: Scandia, AB.
Article references (and thanks): Eastern Irrigation District Museum, Alberta Register of Historic Places (Hermis – Heritage Recourse Management Information System), Warkentin Building Movers, AlbertaFarmExpress.ca.

If you visit the Museum be sure and give a big donation.

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Scandia Grain Elevator

The town’s 1920s era Grain Elevator.

Fire Truck Scandia Museum

In retirement.

Scandia AB Elevator

The elevator was last used in the 1970s.

1940s Chevrolet Pickup

A Chevrolet Pickup from the 1940s – love the colour!

Federal Truck

A 1920s Federal.

Minneapolis Moline Tractor

Good strong tractor from Minneapolis Moline.

Railway Avenue Scandia Alberta

The view from Railway Avenue.

Cockshutt Combine

Cockshutt was a big player at one time.

Scandia Museum

Old and weathered.

Globe Gas Pump Scandia AB

That small town feel.

Farm Windmill Scandia Alberta

Every farm had one.

Jenner AB Train Station

Moved in from Jenner.

Old Metal Scandia Alberta

An assortment of old metal.

Scandia Museum Millicent

A shout out to another small town in the area.

EID Historical Park Scandia

EID = Eastern Irrigation District.

Welcome to Scandia

Welcome to Scandia!

EID Museum Scandia Elevator

It stands where built – old river ferry far left.

Scandia Alberta Grain Elevator

The “Pool” was once the largest grain firm in the province.

Scandia Elevator Engine House

This building housed offices and the drive engine.

CP Rail Stock Car

This is a late model “stock” car.

Railway Bogie Scandia

Bogie details.

Grain Elevator Scandia Alberta

The trains last visited Scandia in the 1970s.

Canadian Made Ford Edsel

The infamous Edsel.

Edsel Car Interior

From the driver’s seat.

1970 Ford Pickup

Forty eight years old.

Old Wagon Wheels Scandia

The many miles it rolled.

Old Car Scandia Museum

Something your Great Grandpa drove.

Eastern Irrigation Museum Scandia

From the “Bow Slope Stockyards”.

Scandia Alberta EID Museum

The elevator keeps commanding attention.

Pool Elevator Scandia Alberta

A most iconic view.

Imperial Hunter Hotel

The Imperial Hunter Hotel in nearby Bassano.

1960s International V200

A random find on the drive home, this early ’60s IH V200.

68 responses

  1. Terry says:

    Worked I the blacksmith shop at earl Tayler days for the last 25 years great community

  2. I stopped there Friday – the Scandia “station” was repainted and in a new location along their short section of track. Some progress made since I was there last

    • Awesome, we’ll have to check it out again sometime. We saw your pics on Facebook. Nice!

      • Jason Paul Sailer says:

        Thanks, Chris, I’d hope to have Scandia as a stop on our annual Ghost Town Tour… Will have to see with this COVID-19 when we can do it.

  3. BenandAdele Pradella says:

    Beautiful pictures ,,

  4. Lynn Bardsley Redekopp says:

    Great pictures and stories. Thank you!

  5. Brenda Hoskin says:

    Manitoba and Saksatchewan have managed to hold onto theirs; many of Alberta’s elevators fell victim to our booming economy.

  6. Rob Humeston says:

    Some great photos! That’s not too far from me, def looks like it’s worth a visit.

  7. Judy Dahl says:

    Beautiful photos!

  8. Margaret Bitzer says:

    great shots!

  9. Judy Wilson says:

    Silly question from 20 years ago but..is the little store containing the attached post office still there in Scandia??

  10. Marie Sinclair says:

    I love seeing your posts. They are always so informative and the photos are amazing.

  11. Sara McMullan says:

    Beautiful!

  12. tim swaren says:

    Love it Chris! Like a snapshot back in time.

  13. Margaret Pascuzzi says:

    Another beautiful pictures🌻🌻🍁🍂

  14. Donna Cuyler says:

    How perfect!

  15. Gerry Steiert says:

    I enjoy all your photos!

  16. Beverly Hittle says:

    I love elevators … nice pics!

  17. Jackie Anderson says:

    Wow, my grandmother and family was in Duchess. She had the hotel there a million years ago.

  18. Brad Kinchen says:

    I really miss the days of the woodys.

  19. Anne Osborne de Zeeuw says:

    What lovely shots!

  20. James Deleff says:

    Reminds me of the good old towns we had.

  21. Margaret Pascuzzi says:

    Nice pics,,,🍂

  22. Gerry Steiert says:

    Awesome shots. Love the old elevators.

  23. Gord Tolton says:

    The branch line from Cassils-on the CPR main line_to Scandia was pulled up around 1973, but as they did, the CBC took advantage of a great opportunity. They used the grade to film actual construction of the CPR of 1883-1885 for use in “The National Dream” miniseries.

    • es, we visited the location where we believe they shot the National Dream prairie scenes. We found a photo dated late 1976 showing some boxcars being spotted at the Scandia Elevator so it seems the line lasted a bit longer than you say. We found many references to it being pulled up in ’77. Thanks for commenting!

  24. Mark Kirwin says:

    Outstanding work!

  25. Ross H. Ranger says:

    When I can I like to wander the prairies & plains. I always look up these locations, especially if I have never been there before. Going to check out where Scandia is located.

  26. Justine Schulz says:

    What great shots!

  27. Christine Freund says:

    Great pictures!

  28. Ted Cutlan says:

    Scandia is a nice spot.

  29. Lori Boschman says:

    Wow, great photos. Thanks for sharing.

  30. David Bly says:

    Stirs a fond memory from about 60 years ago. Went to spend part of the summer with cousins in Rosemary. On the way, we crossed the Bow River via the Scandia ferry. It was like a sea voyage for a prairie lad.

  31. Lori Boschman says:

    Thank you!

  32. Bill Marsh says:

    Wonderful!

  33. Glen Bowe says:

    Another great blog Chris. I hadn’t heard of Scandia before. It’s getting penciled in for a 2019 trip. Keep up the great work.

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