The manufacture of clay products began with the earliest inhabitants of the Valley as shown by the pottery shards found in excavations of ancient campsites.
Probably the first brickyard operated after settlement of the Valley began, was that of the Doukhobors near Thunderhill. Several other brickyards were operated in the Valley in the early 1900's.
A Mr. Shuttleworth owned and operated a small brick manufacturing operation around 1903-04 near Minitonas. It was situated on NW 12-25-36, south of the railway, about one mile west of town. Local residents say clay was dug at the site leaving a huge, clay muck hole for years where the road is at the present time.
Around 1904, discovery of a good bank of clay was made on the late Frank Thomas farm, SW 28-34-28, on present Highway 83, about midway between Kenville and Durban. Railway crews dug out the bank while making the right of way, exposing this suitable material. Mr. Thomas took the opportunity to make brick for family use but it is not known if he sold any. This yard was in operation only a very short time and not after 1904. These bricks were white in color and stamped with the maker's initials, "F.T." Limestone was fired by Mr. Thomas to add to the clay which accounted for the white color. The kiln was fired night and day for at least seventy-two hours, with dry poplar wood, cut by hand in the immediate area. Joe Thomas, Fred Burt and Cecil Fullerton worked at the tasks of the yard for which they were paid $2.00 a week. Mr. Thomas could not make many bricks at a time because molds were expensive and he could only afford a few.
A summary report, Department of Mines, Geological Survey, 1917, gives a description of the clay deposit on the north bank of the Swan River on SW 10-37-26, ten miles downstream, north east of Swan River town. In this report was written, "This is the most useful clay so far discovered in the Province of Manitoba".
In 1930, the Swan River Development Association took clay samples from the farm of Alex Fraser, SE 8-27-26, and sent them to Ottawa where more testing was done. The report was similar to that of 1917 but added, "It could make pottery such as dinnerware and what is known as hotel china, sanitary ware, stoneware, insulators, flower pots and other articles". It was also stated an unusually high firing temperature was needed so the fuel cost would be high.
Though this deposit was known since 1917, it was not until the early 1950's that someone undertook to exploit it for these suggested commercial uses. In 1951, Swan River Clay Products Limited was set up with the original intention of producing brick near Pine River. After further investigating, it was decided there was not a large enough supply of clay in that area and the project was furthered at the Swan River site.
The Executive of the newly formed company was Irwin Steen, Kenville, President; S.A. Neilson (The Onion King), Swan River, Vice-President; E.L. Cottingham, Swan River, Secretary-Tresurer; E.K. (Bud) Fraser, Mrs. Sarah Hayes, Mrs. Rourke and Frank Werbick all of Swan River, were also on the Board. One million shares at ten cents each were sold. It was generally felt the project was under financed from the beginning.
Clay for the bricks was quarried from the river bank of the Swan River on the southeast corner of SW 10-37-26, about seven miles downstream from the town. The property belonged to Bud Fraser who was given shares for the rights to the clay. This was the same quarter section as the one mentioned in the 1917 Geological Report. Alec Filuk hauled the clay to the plant after it was excavated from the bank by bulldozer. At the plant site it was piled and allowed to partially dry before being processed.
Property of about thirty acres for the plant was purchased next to the railroad, 3/4 of a mile north. The mill and other equipment was purchased from Bill Hales of Winnipeg who had made bricks at Edran, Manitoba. The mill was what is known as a dry press.
The plant stood abandoned for several years until 1959 when it was rented to Woodborn Gardens of Winnipeg. After a year, they too were unsuccessful and the deal fell to the wayside.
In the Swan River area, there are a number of buildings made of Swan River brick to attest to the fact Swan River Clay Products did exist. The dream for a lasting industry for the town had failed. The town pumping stations, Currie Furniture, the farm home of Brian and Jean Peyton, the Brust Block in Dauphin plus several carloads of brick sold in Winnipeg were the main manufacturing output of the company.