Langley’s History Through The Lens: Share Your Family Photos

These evocative images came to Langley Heritage Society from Patricia Young. Her grandparents, Nell and Jim Wright, moved to Langley from England just after the turn of the last century. They settled where Walnut Grove subdivision exists today; as you can see, it took lots of sweat and effort to clear the land in order to build their home. "I hope this might encourage others to contribute their own photos and stories.  The attached photos are of my Paternal Grandparents, Jim and Nell Wright who lived at 9207  Holmstead Road (now 213th St.). The Wright brothers settled in Langley about 1907...they cleared the land and built their own home. My Grandfather lived on the property until his death in 1969."  Jim Wright prepares for some hard work. Nell Wright and her husband emigrated from England to Canada around 1907. They landed in rural Langley where they cleared the land [...]

2020-05-27T05:59:51+00:00December 6th, 2018|

Life At Sperling General Store

My parents, Art and Doris Woolley, purchased the Sperling General Store and Post Office in 1945, the year I was born.  Mom was the postmaster and they both operated the store, Mom taking orders by phone, then Dad delivering groceries and hardware throughout north Langley until the 401 Freeway forced the closure of the store in 1962. Dad had driven the delivery truck for Harry Berry in the 1930’s thru to 1945. Langley’s Heritage – A Listing of Heritage Resources published in 1995 notes that: “Much of the surrounding community survived the Depression due to Berry’s generous extension of credit.” Dad certainly followed Mr. Berry’s generous example and extended credit to local farmers and fishermen hoping to settle the account at the end of each season. Although many customers were not able to clear their debt by the time the store closed, one family kept a record of their account [...]

2020-05-27T05:59:56+00:00October 13th, 2018|

Riding The Rails by Marv Woolley

Arthur Harold (Art) Woolley was born in Edenwold Saskatchewan, June 21, 1912. He was the oldest of five children and “rode the rails” to Langley in 1931 when he was 19 years old.  The Woolley family followed and settled in Langley later in 1931. The 1930’s were difficult times in Saskatchewan as it was in many parts of Canada and the Woolley family were considering a move to British Columbia. I am not aware if Art was sent or if he volunteered to come out to BC to find a future home. He left home with very little and he wasn’t sure why his mother gave him a New Testament. On one occasion he was down to one nickel which he decided to save in case of an emergency or for security when he got hungry. Imagine, a nickel for security! Many other men would travel on the freight trains, [...]

2020-05-27T05:59:56+00:00October 13th, 2018|

Carving History by Ellen Worrell

The Storehouse at Fort Langley’s National Historic Site. Built in 1840 for the fur trade, it is the oldest building in Langley. Ellen Worrell from Milner relates the story of a unique carving project that helped preserve Fort Langley’s most important historic site. John Worrell arrived in 1919 from the army.  He was a musician and carver. In 1920 he carved a replica of the Fort with 17 buildings.  In 1925 the Fort Preservation Society (Dr. Marr and G.F. Young) along with the Post # 4 Native Sons of B.C., New Westminster Branch, purchased the replica, displaying it in Vancouver and Fort Langley.  They charged 10 cents admission towards fundraising at an event they held on the Fort grounds. The programme of events included games of chance and a dance in the Town Hall. The carved replica was on display in the old storehouse, one of the original buildings of the Fort. [...]

2017-05-04T23:34:11+00:00January 15th, 2017|
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