Local stories and experiences handed down through generations add richness, colour and historical context to where we live. Langley is rich with stories and we feature some of them on this page. Please contribute yours to: info@langleyheritage.ca Photographs are appreciated. (We may edit stories for length and clarity.)
Mapping Local History
What's in a name? Kwantlen translates as "Tireless Runner" in the h?n?q??min??m? language. Langley was named after Thomas Langley, a director with the Hudson's Bay Company that established the fur trading post in 1827. Murrayville, [...]
Early Internet: Telegraph Trail
This marker stands near the intersection of Glover Road and Telegraph Trail and commemorates the first telegraph line built in the west in 1865 by Collins Overland, in partnership with Western Union and the California [...]
The Flying Seven
Photo: Pictured (L-R): Jean Pike, Tosca Trasolini, Mrs. E. Flahery, Alma Gilbert, Elianne Roberge (President), Margaret Fane, Rolie Moore. Courtesy of Township of Langley The famous Flying Seven have been honoured with a massive mural [...]
Christmas Telegram: A Fantasy
Click. Clack. The telegraph jumped to life, catching Richard Simpson snoozing in his chair. He reached for the pencil tucked behind his ear and began transcribing. “On my way…need hot rum.” Agent Simpson chuckled as he rolled [...]
SS Beaver’s Bell
The Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at Derby Reach on the Fraser River in 1827, and 9 years later, the London-built SS Beaver went into service. It carried furs, food, supplies and people [...]
Fort Langley’s First Community Centre
Above photo: Frank Leonard, 1924, from Vancouver Public Library collection. Thanks to Trinity Western University student Sophia Kutney who shared her paper on the Fort Langley CNR Station. This has been edited for length. In the [...]