Photograph of the garage where Jack Stiglish repaired machinery and housed his tools, and the mushroom house beside it. A sign propped up between the two buildings reads "manure" with an arrow pointing to the right.
Photograph of the garage where Jack Stiglish repaired machinery and housed his tools, and the mushroom house beside it. A sign propped up between the two buildings reads "manure" with an arrow pointing to the right.
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "view of father's garage where his tools were + he repaired the machinery / sign saying bags of manure this way / mushroom house next to garage"
This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's memories of her family's mushroom farm. Diane describes how compost was created on the farm, how the mushrooms were dealt with and what chores she was responsible for as a child. She also tells stories of inspectors coming to the farm.
This portion of the recording pertains to Diane Stiglish's memories of her family's mushroom farm. Diane describes how compost was created on the farm, how the mushrooms were dealt with and what chores she was responsible for as a child. She also tells stories of inspectors coming to the farm.
Date Range
1947-1960
Photo Info
Diane Stiglish with her parents and older brother in New Westminster, 1955. Item no. 549-067.
Recording is an interview with Diane Stiglish conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, December 4, 2012. Major theme discussed: mushroom farming.
Biographical Notes
F.J. "Jack" Stiglish (originally spelt Stiglich) and his wife bought a Burnaby home in 1943 at Keswick Street, just south of the Lougheed Highway, and took up mushroom farming. By the time their daughter Diane was born five years later in New Westminster, the F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm was an established business. Mushrooms grown at the F.J. Stiglish farm were sent off to Money’s Mushrooms to be packaged and retailed. Later, mushroom growers bought out Money’s to form the Fraser Valley Mushroom Growers Co-op and nominated Jack Stiglish as their first president. Jack then entered a float in the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) parade and set up a mushroom booth at the fair.
In 1969 Jack Stiglish sold the mushroom farm and he and his wife moved next to their trailer court business just down the road. Diane’s brother Allan Stiglich (his family name returned to the original spelling) moved to Langley to open a large mushroom farm of his own which he established with the help of his father. Diane Stiglish began a career with BC Tel.
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.
Photograph of the Money's Mushrooms parade float that FJ "Jack" Stiglish created for the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) parade. Helen Stiglish is believed to have created the mushroom drawings for the float.
Photograph of the Money's Mushrooms parade float that FJ "Jack" Stiglish created for the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) parade. Helen Stiglish is believed to have created the mushroom drawings for the float.
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Father created the float for the PNE parade with mother's help. My mother probably drew the mushrooms as she was very artistic. There was also a booth at the PNE that / about 1957 / float on an old red Studebaker"
Photograph of a group of six men and their five dogs at the Old Brunette River Dam. The men are in suits and most are wearing bowler hats. Their dogs look to be English Foxhounds and Poodles.
Photograph of a group of six men and their five dogs at the Old Brunette River Dam. The men are in suits and most are wearing bowler hats. Their dogs look to be English Foxhounds and Poodles.
Photograph of Dinah, the Stiglish family's Rough Collie on the family property (this property included the F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm). Mushroom houses are visible in the background.
Photograph of Dinah, the Stiglish family's Rough Collie on the family property (this property included the F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm). Mushroom houses are visible in the background.
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "F.J. Stiglish mushroom farm / 3782 Keswick Ave / Burnaby 3 / before changed address 1050 Keswick Ave / probably 1960s / mushroom houses in background garage with a suite above it, used for parties."
Photograph of the overflow of Jehovah Witness convention goers staying on the Stiglish property because the four acre trailer park, in Coquitlam, British Columbia that Jack Stiglish owned, was full.
Photograph of the overflow of Jehovah Witness convention goers staying on the Stiglish property because the four acre trailer park, in Coquitlam, British Columbia that Jack Stiglish owned, was full.
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "father owned four acre Trailer Court in Coquitlam / Jehovah Witness convention overflow from trailer park"