by Donna Swagerty Shreve
Thelma, daughter of Jack Swagerty shared this story with me of a special trip she and Lorna, her sister, took with their father. On Monday April 10, 2006 the trio drove from Sutter Creek to Escalon to see the dairy that Jack’s father, Elmer Swagerty once owned. Lorna and Thelma couldn’t remember the farm’s location but Jack remembered and took them right to it.
The road leading to the farm buildings now had a large house built at the entry and was named De Silva Estate Road. They might have named the road but it was still the dirt road full of pot holes from the original farm. The original home was built during World War II and materials were limited. Elmer and Pearl were only allowed enough materials to build a small one bedroom, one bathroom home. This original home had now been enlarged. Behind this house were several trailers lined up for housing the milkers that worked at the dairy. The house where Jack and his family lived until the fall of 1954 was no longer there. In its place is a garage/shed-like structure.
Jack was over near the house and Lorna and Thelma were near the dairy when a man approached. Thelma called out to him and said no doubt he was probably wondering why they were there with a camera. Thelma also felt rather odd as she had plastic bags, secured by rubber bands, covering her shoes. It had recently rained and it was muddy. Jack came over and joined his daughters.
Thelma told the man that both Lorna and she lived on the dairy for a few years when they were very young, ages 2 and 3. The man introduced himself as the owner, Manuel Silva. Jack told him that he helped build the dairy barn and that Elmer, his father, had been the first owner. Manuel was very pleased to meet Jack and asked him if he were Dutch. The Dutch and Portuguese are the two main groups who have dairy farms in the Escalon area. Jack laughed and told him no. Also, Manuel asked numerous questions about the buildings and history. Jack indicated that the last time he had seen the dairy was in 1960.
As a side note Jack and Elmer finally parted ways in 1954 as Elmer was content to do things the traditional way and Jack wanted to modernize. Elmer made the comment that only one could sit in the saddle and that would be Elmer. Jack told his wife they were leaving and she quickly packed as she had seen this coming for a bit. Jack and family moved into Stockton and lived with Jeanne’s parents while Jack attended Delta College. They then moved on where Jack attended U.C. Davis, where he graduated with honors. Jack was now on a new path.
Manuel asked how old Jack was now. Jack indicted he was 82. Manuel said he couldn’t believe the Jack was 82 as he looked so good. Manuel hoped he would look as good as Jack when he was 82. Thelma and Lorna thought it had something to do with the preservative affect of the cow manure.
While there, Manuel’s son-in-law came to check out what was happening. Manuel told the group that he purchased the farm from another crazy Portuguese person. Apparently the prior owner just got upset with the entire dairy business and decided to sell. Manuel added the farm to his other holdings and now acres of land with 600 to 800 cows. He also uses an automated milking system. Jack remembered the hours he had to spend milking and bending over, so he thought the automated milking system was a great improvement.
The son-in-law mentioned that they previously had milked in the original barn that Jack had helped to build prior to the new system. Milking the herd of 600 cows used to require eight hours of milking. Now with the new system, they can accomplish the milking in two to three hours. The new system with the large rotary circular platform, approximately 30 feet in diameter, takes nine cows and takes nine minutes per one rotation.
Manuel told Jack to come back and visit him any time as he was so delighted to meet the original owners and learn some of the history. Jack never went to visit again but had the satisfaction of seeing what became of the dairy farm.
Brian and I were going to a workshop in Yosemite and because I was driving I did a side trip to the dairy farm on Steinegul Rd. I knew it was on Steinegul Rd. just off Lone Tree road. I found the road to the dairy but was confused by the huge house at the road’s entrance. I then drove down the very familiar road that was dirt and full of pot holes. As we arrived at the site of the original house, we noticed it had been enlarged. The barn was still there but there were definitely many more buildings. At this point Brian is getting nervous at our blatant trespassing. A man came out to see what we were doing on his property. I rolled down my window and explained that our grandfather had owned this property many years previously. He gave a few comments about the additions but we had seen enough and left for our Yosemite workshop. I really just wanted to prove to myself that I could find the dairy farm once again. Jack and his daughters received a much better reception and had much more to offer. For several years I drove to Oakdale weekly for a knitting class. When it was my turn to drive, I drove via Lone Tree Road so I could see the side of Grandpa’s and Grandma’s dairy where all of us Swagerty types spent many a Thanksgiving. Being one of the older grandchildren and also living close by in Escalon, I got to visit the farm to visit my dear grandmother. The site of the dairy feels special to me for all of the happy childhood memories.
1021 words
10/24/2025
Return to Stories
Return to Swagerty/Aldrich Stories
Swagerty-Aldrich Family Web Site 