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Welcome to the
Mike Scott story

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Adam Wostrawdowski (r) and Mike Scott (l) in front of a Smoke Stack
1940
Claybank Brick Plant Site

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Mike Scott Story

Mike Scott spent all his working days at the Brick Plant. From 1949 to 1982, he worked in the machine shop. Mike was born in Moose Jaw in 1917. He grew up on the family farm south of Moose Jaw, attending Quincy School about a mile away. He attended school until grade nine then stayed home to help on the farm. He drove truck with his older brother in summers and went to Technical School in Moose Jaw during the winter. He took Machine Shop Practice, Welding, Pipe Drafting and Machine Drafting. In the spring of 1940, Albert Reed, Chief Engineer of Dominion Fire Brick at Claybank, came to the school looking for a shift engineer that could do some machine shop work. The pay wasn't the greatest, but for $80 a month, Mike took the job and moved into the boarding house at the Brick Plant.

Mike had intended on staying only one year, but it was during this time that the Plant became involved in the War works. The Plant supplied all the brick for the Canadian Navy, C.N. and C.P. locomotives. One of Mike's first jobs was to make a dye, that would make a brick which looked like a waffle, this brick fit into the Navy's steam powered Destroyers.

Mike lived in the boarding house until 1943 at that time he and Edie were married. They lived in Claybank for a few years, until a house became available at the Plant. They lived on the west side until John and Grace Wostradowski retired, at that time they moved into the Brick House on the east side of the site.

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Mike Scott
1990
Other

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During his time at the Brick Plant, Mike saw many changes. One of his earliest memories in the Shop, is of rebuilding the three cylinder Mirrlees Diesel engine, with pieces scattered all over the floor awaiting re-assembly. Each day brought a new challenge, from designing dyes and maintaining the equipment, to the conversion of coal fired kilns to natural gas. Mike was involved in the design and construction of a rail track used to load and unload the kilns.

During the War years, when supplies could not be obtained, the employees at the Plant started rebuilding and repairing existing equipment with the parts they manufactured on site. This practice continued up until the Plant closed in 1989.

Mike and Edie raised two children at the Brick Plant. Life was pretty good in general, each house had a big yard with beautiful gardens. Tucked up against the hills provided a peaceful country life, a good place to raise kids! The hills provided much outdoor activity from hiking and hunting to ball games in summer. Sleigh riding and skating on the pond in the winter. Mike raised bees and for many years had a weather station and kept records for the Department of Transport.

After more than forty years at the Brick Plant, Mike and Edie retired to Moose Jaw, where they still reside today. Mike has brought his love of gardening to the city. A walk in his backyard is a small reminder of his talent with horticulture, especially his rose bushes, as he try's to capture some peacefulness amid the hustle and bustle of city life.

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Thank you