Person:Frederick Swanick (1)

from 'Last Mountain Echoes', 1980- p. 235, Mr.& Mrs. Fred Swanick- He came West and homesteaded in the Arlington Beach district on the N.E. 1/4 16-26-23- W2 in 1903. He married Gladys Campbell, a school teacher who taught at Arlington Beach School and Sundwall island. While in this district they had two children, Gerald, who is now a captain on a boat off Vancouver Island, and a daughter Lutie, who is a R.N. and has nursed in Regina General Hosp. since about 1950. She lives in Regina Beach. In the early years he purchased a steams engine and separator and did threshing in the district. Mr. Swanick was active in the U.G.G. movement first and later was involved with the formation of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. in 1934 they purchased land in the Pelly district and moved there owing to the continued years of drought in the Govan area. While in Pelly, their daughter Mariel, was born and is now Mrs. Jim Pirsak at Kindersley. Mrs. Swanick died suddenly in 1949. In the mid 1950's Fred moved to Victoria where he retired and lived until his death in late Sept. 1970.

From the- PELLY and District-' History Coming Alive' book, volume 2, 1988: p. 739-- SWANICK, Fred and Galdys (Campbell) -- Fred Swanick and his wife, Galdys, moved to Pelly from Govan, Saskatchewan in November 1933, to escape the drought and dust storms. They brought with them one son, Gerald and a daughter Lutie. Another daughter, Muriel, was born at Pelly. Mrs. Swanick had previously resided in the Pelly district in the early 1920's, having been one of the first teachers at Lister School. She also had three brothers living in Pelly, Milton, Norman and Lewis Campbell. The Swanicks, Fred and son Gerald, arrived in Pelly by C.N.R. box car in 1933. They moved to the 'Weaver farm' about a half-mile north of the village with the neighbourly assistance of the Haugen and Pollon families. Mrs. Swanick and Lutie arrived by train a few days latter and were staying at her brother's Norman Campbell residence the night of the big fire, (Campbell's Garage and adjoining business). The land was most suited for mixed farming and a milk route was established in 1935 which continued until 1947. Mrs. Swanick died at pelly in July 1949, and Fred retired to Victoria, British Columbia about 1954. He died at Nanaimo in Sept. 1970.