Nation's Largest Grain Market

Nation’s Largest Grain Market

Taken from the Wildrose Golden Jubilee Book 1910-1960:

Grain Elevators

   Between 1911 and 1916, Wildrose was a “boom” town, due largely to the fact that it was the nation’s largest primary grain market. This grain was taken care of by four grain elevators. They were the National, The Farmers Elevator, C. O. Highum’s, and one operated by Martin Gulson. There were also two track buyers who purchased the grain from the farmers along the tracks and loaded if directly into the box cars for shipping.

Nation’s Largest Grain Market

   From 1911 to 1916, Wildrose was declared to be the largest primary grain market in the United States. Being situated at the end of the line, grain was hauled from as far away as Grenora, distances from forty-five to fifty miles in some cases. A farmer would expect to be gone at least four days with each load.  He would leave Grenora early one morning, with horses and wagon, and since roads were mere trails, it would take him until evening to make Cottonwood Lake. Here he would put up for the night and the next day he would reach Wildrose. Chances were great that when he arrived at the Elevator, it would be full and often long strings of loads were in line waiting to unload. That meant a stay-over in Wildrose of possibly two nights for the hauler, then a trip of two days back to Grenora. No wonder that Wildrose boasted three hotels and three livery barns in these days.