There is a wealth of history waiting to be discovered and Yorkton and area residents are invited to join in! The Claybank Brick Plant is celebrating 100 years and organizers hope residents from across the province will come out to take a walk back in time and take part in celebrations.
Yorkton's Fred Bodnaryk is one of the only surviving original employees of the plant and he says it's an adventure well worth making the trek for.
Now a spry 92, Bodnaryk worked at the Claybank plant in 1942/43. He recalls it was hard work with not a huge financial reward.
"I worked all night wheeling clay for 36 cents an hour... we had to fill the bin, which I would say would hold about 900 bushels of wheat now. One person, which was me, had to wheel all that clay... it was all manual work with a wheel barrow and shovel."
In 1943 Bodnaryk says he was called to the army so that concluded his clay career.
"It was hard work and the pay was small but when you have no money you have to work. Like my dad used to say, 'If you want to eat, you have to work.' So I worked.
"I didn't mind it. In the fall when we were finished, I remember stopping in Moose Jaw to buy a suit. It cost $9. It was a really nice suit - three piece, very nice... 36 cents an hour was very little money but you got more for your money back then."
No longer in operation, the plant started up 100 years ago to meet building demands with clay even being brought to Yorkton for construction. Bodnaryk says he knows for sure the land titles building was one in which the clay he wheeled was used.
The Claybank Brick Plant is representative of an industrial process that is quickly vanishing from society and it's unique in that it is the only intact complex of it's kind and era left in Canada. Now a historic site, the plant remains open during the summer months for tours.
This year marks the 100th Anniversary since the plant began operations so in light of that fact, the Historical Society is hosting a special celebration event to which all are invited.
The event takes place Sunday June 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The day will feature narrated, self-guided tours where visitors will see how bricks were made as well as historic machinery in operation.
In addition there will be a host of activities which include: hay rides; railway rides; hands on demonstrations; children's activities; entertainment; food concessions; home baking and more!
A group photo of former residents and employees will be taken after ceremonies. The entrance fee is $10 per person or $25 per family. Six and under are free. To learn more call (306)868-4474 or visit: www.claybankbrick.ca. Bodnaryk will be in attendance. "It's very interesting," he comcludes. "For anyone who hasn't seen it I really recommend it. I go every year."
