Dennis Jackson was one of the world’s top collectors

By C. Scott Holland

From the day Dennis Jackson started work at the former H. J. Heinz Co. in December 1964 until the day of his death on April 8, 2018, Heinz was his passion.

He started working at the factory with his friend Bob Shaw and they retired on the same day in 2001. But for Dennis, 35 years of work at the factory only led to his post-retirement life which was as active as any can be.

Dennis Jackson and his best friend Robert Shaw on their last day in April of 2001. Scott Holland archive photo

His initial love of the job led him to start collecting Heinz items and various associated pieces of related memorabilia. His passion for the company and its iconic ketchup was shown every morning as he smothered toast with the Heinz ketchup.

For many years, he ran the Keystone Korner Gift Shoppe at the factory and was an ambassador for Heinz. His collection was immense and he was listed at one point in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the largest collection. Among the artifacts, was over 10,000 labels from products and the Canadian company’s original time book.

The number 57 certainly was prevalent in Dennis’ life. His employee clock number was 7755 and his home phone number started with a 5 and ended with a 7. “I even have my hockey sweater with 57 on it!” he once proclaimed.

For about 15 years, a small portion of his vast collection was featured at the Leamington Arts Centre and his collection was often featured in various newspaper and magazine articles as well as TV shows like Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!.

For area residents it is strange not seeing the familiar white and black restored 1949 International pickup with its license plate ‘Heinz 57’ cruise around town. The truck was acquired by Dennis with help from local car buffs Kurt Gossen and Bill Sherk.

Certainly without Dennis, Heinz Canada’s 100th anniversary in 2009 would not have been such a success and its history book “A Century In The Making…” (2009; out of print) would not have been done if not for him and his collection.