08/31/2026
Memory Lane Mondays August 31st post is all about the Pastorek Farm! These images feature several buildings and cows on the farm.
The Pastorek Family History was compiled by Judy Cowan and edited by Judy and the Pastorek Family members in 1992, the history is what follows. If you want the full story read it on our website! https://www.pittmeadowsmuseum.com/locations/pastorek-farm
The Pastorek Story
Frank Pastorek Sr. (Grandpa) was born January 26th, 1886, at Krasna, Czechoslovakia, the only boy in a family with five sisters. His parents were Joseph Pastorek and Hednky Skomiokove. Barbara Mohyia (Grandma) was born November 22, 1892, at Krasna, Czechoslovakia, one of five children. Her Father was Martine Mohyla and her Mother was Hednky Vroblove.
Grandpa and Grandma Pastorek were married on February 21, 1911 at Krasna, Czechoslovakia. Grandpa was a “Jack of all trades”. He made wooden barrels and buckets. He was also a cloth salesman, walking from town to town. They lived near Frydek, Czechoslovakia, close to the Polish border. During this time two daughters were born – Agnes on October 4th, 1912 and Mary on January 18, 1915. A son, John, was born June 21, 1921 also at this place.
Grandpa heard of better living conditions in the United States so he wanted to emigrate there. In 1914, he had papers for himself, Grandma, and Agnes to emigrate to the U.S. but war broke out. Grandpa stowed away on a ship the brought him to New Orleans. He bummed around working along the coast up to Massachusetts. Here he got a fireman’s job in a woolen factory at 12 cents an hour. He worked 12 hours a day and 6 days a week.
In 1920, Grandpa returned to Czechoslovakia with some money and he planned to stay. He bought 15 acres of better land in a better location, a few miles from where they were living and in the summer of 1921 they moved to this location. They had 3 or 4 milking cows. Grandpa was also a machine salesman and a cooper – a barrel maker. A second son, Frank, was born here on October 4th, 1923. The girls were going to school. At school they were known as Agnes Pastorekova, and Mary Pastorekova. Boys used the last name Pastorek.
Life continued on, but was becoming very restrictive. The boys were going to have to join the military. Thus, in 1926, Grandpa P. returned to North America. He had wanted to go to the United States but its borders were closed so he came to Canada. He came westward through Coleman, Alberta. He got a job at East Kootenay Power at Sentinel, Alberta. He knew some English, so he was made foreman or boss of the “Greenhorns” from Czechoslovakia. In early 1930, Grandpa P. returned to Czechoslovakia to bring the entire family to Canada. Grandma P. hesitated about leaving her home as things were going fairly well for them in Czechoslovakia. Agnes and Mary had completed 8 years of schooling and John and Frank had started their schooling.
However, in September 1930, the whole Pastorek family – Grandpa, Grandma, Agnes, Mary, John, and Frank Jr. emigrated to Canada. They docked in Quebec City on the “Empress of France”. Upon arrival in Quebec City, the Pastoreks crossed Canada by train to New Westminster, B.C. They stayed in a hotel for a few days while Grandpa and Grandma looked for property. They bought 25 acres in Newton which was already fully logged. The family moved into a small shack which was already there. The site is now a shopping centre.
In New Westminster, Grandpa met Mr. Freheit, who said, “Let’s go to Pitt Meadows.” By November 30, 1930, Grandpa had sold 5 acres of his Newton property back to the owner for less than half the purchase price. He bought 34 acres in Pitt Meadows. There wasn’t even a bridge onto the property which is the same property that Frank Jr. is living on today. A house of two bedrooms and a kitchen was built on the present house site. Grandpa sold the rest of his Newton property in 1940. In 1945, 20 acres were purchased down McKechnie Road (to become known as “the ranch”). In 1949, a further 20 acres was purchased adjoining the first 20 acres down McKechnie Road.
Grandpa P. worked property taxes off by loading gravel onto trucks in 1930-31. He also dug stumps by hand across from the SE corner of Harris and Hammond Roads for 15 cents an hour for Dr. Chapman. From 1933-40 he worked at Maple Ridge Lumber on old River Road, east of 8th Ave. (now 224th street). He started there at 25 cents per hour. Two more sons were born – Bill on September 11, 1932 and Leo on July 29, 1934. Both were born at home with no mid-wife present. In 1933, Grandpa started shipping milk to Fraser Valley Milk Producers in Vancouver. In 1940, he quit working at the lumber yard and he went pounding nails – carpentry.
Frank, Barbara, Agnes, John and Frank Jr. became naturalized citizens after 5 years in Canada and in 1936, they became Canadian Citizens.
In September 1953, Grandpa and Grandma sold their farm to their son, Frank. They moved to the house at the corner of Dewdney Trunk Road and 1st Avenue (now 203rd street). Here they enjoyed retirement although, on any one day you could find them puttering around on the farm doing odd jobs. There were still cows that only Grandma could milk. (Her fingers had that magic touch.) You could see Grandpa walking down McKechnie Road about 10:30 every morning to get the mail, always hoping that one of his grandchildren had not already gotten it.
A Pastorek tradition at Christmas time was the family gathering on Christmas Eve. This was at Grandpa and Grandma’s house. Supper included pea soup and fried fish, keeping in mind no meat on Dec. 24. Dessert included stewed prunes. Then Santa Claus came and how excited all of us kids would be! After 1960, this celebration moved to Frank Jr.’s on the farm where it continued until the grandchildren had families of their own. We all remember the family gatherings that would take place on special holidays or family happenings, such as baptisms. We all looked forward to seeing those relatives that lived away from the Pitt Meadows area. There was always lots and lots of good food and fun and laughter. Who didn’t look forward to seeing those bubbling candle lights on Auntie Agnes’ Christmas tree.
Frank Pastorek Sr. passed away November 8, 1960, just three months before his 50th wedding anniversary.
In 1961 the house at the corner of Dewdney Trunk Road and 1st Ave. was sold. Grandma then spent her days between Mary’s and Frank’s. Some weeks she would spend Sunday to Tuesday at the farm and the rest of the week at Mary’s. Other times, she spent the days at Mary’s and nights at the farm. The spare bedroom at the farm is still known as “Grandma’s room”.
Barbara Pastorek passed away August 12, 1972, at the age of 79. She is remembered by her grandchildren as a very kind and caring person. Both Grandpa and Grandma are buried in the cemetery in Maple Ridge.
… After several years working in the US (1915-1920) and Canada (1926-1930),Frank Pastorek Sr. brought his wife and children to Canada from Frydek in what is now the Czech Republic. They purchased 34 acres on Dewdney Trunk Road and in 1933, milking a few cows by hand, they began shipping milk to the Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association (now Dairyland). Throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s members of the Pastorek family worked a variety of jobs to supplement their income as they expanded their dairy herd. Frank and his sons built a number of barns and houses in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, and worked on the construction of St. Patrick’s school.
As their herd increased, the Pastoreks added on to their 1930’s barn in the 1940s (?) and again in 1968. By the 1970s they were milking more than 70 cows and farming 114 acres.”
Do you have a memory of the Pastorek family? Share it on our community map https://www.pittmeadowsmuseum.com/community-map
