Lighthouse on the Prairies

There is very little information about the Jesus Elevator on the internet. Somehow, even Wikipedia missed it. In this book, you are going to learn about Hartley Somerville, a prairie born-again farmer who purchased a 75 foot tall grain elevator in Ellerslie, Alberta, moved it onto his farmstead and, in 1965, repurposed it into the biggest scripture sign Canada has ever seen. Fourteen years later, with the help of a few volunteers, Henry Vanderpyl undertook the task of renovating the elevator with a new verse. For twenty-four years, its endless message steered travelers-far and wide-alongside the Queen Elizabeth II highway at the south entrance to Edmonton: the Gateway to the North.

Sometimes, God calls people to do big things. For Henry, big things done with calligraphy became his calling unto God.

Author Biography

Henry Vanderpyl was born in the Netherlands and raised in Alberta. While still in his teens, he discovered that he loved practicing “Olde English” lettering. He created his own style over time and, after accepting Jesus in his life and being born again, he turned his talents to writing Bible verses and creating banners and posters to spread the Good News.

Although Henry’s wife, Mary Anne, passed away in 2017, he is very thankful for the almost 40 years of marriage they had together, raising six wonderful children. Life has its good and bad times, but you gain spiritual strength through reading and studying the Bible scriptures. You don’t necessarily recognize the extent of what Jesus has done in your life until you start to write about it. Henry still lives in Alberta, and continues to use his calligraphy talents to share Bible scriptures.