MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
Mike Zmurchyk Sr. was born Nov. 8, 1888, at Belleluja, Sniatyn,
Mrs. Zmurchyk, formerly Mary Marusyk, was born Jan. 7,
The year 1923, Dad's brother, Kyfa, immigrated to Canada,
Mother did much of the work in the field with the boys,
Mike and Mary had five children, who all had their schooling
Fred - was born in Coalhurst 1914; after finishing school he
Fred retired from his work at the mine in 1979 after 40
John - was born in Coalhurst 1915, and passed away Jan.
Pete - was born in Coalhurst. I can't remember much of
I remember going to school in Coalhurst on my horse
One day, when school was finished, I was going for
In the winter we used to get together with friends to play
When I was in the calf club, winning a prize for my calf,
-Our Model T. car that sometimes refused to go up the
-Having to take Dad, who did not drive a car, to John
-The get togethers with family and friends at Easter,
-The evenings at Willis's store, by the pot belly stove,
many long stories were told there.
These things are no more, but I can think back on many
Austria, now the Ukraine. He was the eldest of five children,
and immigrated to Canada with his brother, Andrew, in 1908.
After arriving here he began work with the C.P.R. and worked
in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Calgary. In 1911 Dad
paid his first property tax here in Lethbridge.
1892, at Belieluja, Sniatyn, she was one of seven children,
and immigrated to Canada in 1912 to Calgary where she
stayed with her brother, Bill, until she married Mike Oct. 2,
1912. After their marriage they resided in Calgary until
1913, when they moved to Lethbridge. Dad then worked
as Labourer for the contractors Hotson-Leader and Goode.
In early 1914 Dad moved with his family to Coalhurst, where
he found a job at the mine as timberman.
he also worked at the mine in Coalhurst, and was killed
in the mine explosion December 9, 1935. In 1927 Dad
bought 80 acres of land from Mr. L. Nelson, and moved
with his family to the farm. Shortly afterwards, he
purchased another 80 acres just south of the homeplace
from Mr. Joe Gordon. The farm was just about three
miles from the mine at Coalhurst, and from here Dad
used to walk to work.
she always had a beautiful big garden, took care of the
cows, the pigs and the chickens. She used to walk
to town with the baby buggy for groceries. Feb. 12,
1948, Dad passed away. In 1952 mother moved to
town, and lived there till she passed away Sept. 10, 1967.
in West Lethbridge and Coalhurst:
worked at the Thom Dairy farm. Fred moved to Femie in
1939 and worked at the mine in Michel until retirement. In
1944 he married Katherine Sangale from Femie, Fred and
Katie have six children.
years of service. Katie passed away after a lengthy illness
Dec. 21, 1982, and Fred Dec. 11, 1983 after a lengthy illness.
19, 1925 due to a tragic accident when he fell on the ice
while skating in Coalhurst.
living in Wigan, but I do remember coming to the farm in
1927, riding in the back of a wagon, just able to look
over the edge of the wagonbox, and the first few months
living in a granary, until the new house was built. One of
us kids had to stand outside by the house in the evening to
listen for the mine whistle, if it blew it meant Dad would, or
would not have to go to work in the morning, this I can't
remember.
Katie, at times this could be real cold in the wintertime,
sometimes, I would stop at the washhouse at the mine
to warm up.
my horse at the horse barn and decided to take a short
cut. Instead of going over the stile, I decided to jump
over the fence. Mr. Merkley happened to see me and
called me back into the school. He gave me a choice,
either go over the stile fifty times, or get the strap. I took
the strap, but never took a short cut over the fence again.
hockey on different farmers' lakes, many times having to
clean the snow first before we could skate and have our
game.
and had a trip to Calgary with the other winners.
hill forward, turning it around and driving it backwards.
After the Model T. having a Model A. roadster.
When you went to town, sometimes getting caught in
a rain or thunderstorm, coming home soaking wet.
Horchuk or Mike Bohachuk for a card game. At
times, when things were getting rough for Bohachuk
he would turn his cap around, a bit at a time until it
made a complete turn on his head.
Christmas and other holidays, these were happy times.
happy times in Coalhurst, and I'm proud we live here.
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