French Canadian Heritage Picnic: Saturday May 13th
The French Canadian Heritage Picnic at Michaud House approaches this Saturday. Stories, music and tasty snacks. Tickets available HERE.
Voyageurs & Cie Heritage Picnic
Langley Heritage Society & Michaud House in Langley City are hosting the annual Voyageurs & Cie heritage picnic that features French Canadian music, story telling and sweet treats. Michaud House was home to the first Francophone family to settle on what was then called Langley Prairie. This year's picnic is scheduled for May 13th -- don't forget to bring you own chair! Tickets are on sale through Eventbrite. Find our more about historic Michaud House HERE.
City of Langley Covers Flood Damage
During last fall's extreme flooding that devastated parts of the Fraser Valley and Southern Interior, the historic Michaud House in Langley City also suffered damage. Flood waters from the nearby Nicomekl River entered the basement, destroying the furnace and water heater. Langley Heritage Society undertook repairs and applied to the City of Langley Community Grant Program for assistance. We're excited to learn that Langley City Council has awarded a Community Grant of $6,200 to help cover replacement costs. Thank you! See a full list of Grant recipients and details on how organizations can apply to the City HERE. More than $116,000 was awarded to this year's applicants. Michaud House was built in 1888 by Joseph and Georgiana Michaud, the first French Canadian family to live and farm in Langley. Learn more about the history of the house and watch our video HERE. (Above drawing of Michaud House by the late Langley [...]
Michaud House Makes Merry
Sandra Reams, our longtime tenant at Michaud House in Langley City, lovingly tends the gardens year round. She has lots of extra greenery to work with this winter to create arrangements for the neighbourhood. "I had LOTS of supplies courtesy of mother nature as a huge 12’ branch and a 6’ branch came down in the front yard during one of our wind storms. Also, I have holly and other greenery in the yard. I am going to put these arrangements out on a table by the sidewalk with a sign. Be kind and please only take one." Michaud House (built 188) sits beside the Nicomekle River, which burst its banks during recent flooding. It seriously damaged the furnace in the basement, which has now been replaced. "The new furnace is working great and so good for me and the house to have heat in all the rooms." [...]
Michaud House Suffers Flood Damage
(Above: Aldergrove Star photo) There has been devastating damage from flood waters in southwestern B.C. -- from Sumas Prairie to Merritt, Princeton, Spences Bridge, the Pemberton area and other communities. Four people were killed after being caught in mudslides while others have lost homes, animals and livelihoods. Here in Langley the historic Michaud House suffered flood damage when the adjacent Nicomekl River spilled its banks and flooded the basement. Langley Heriatge Society president Fred Pepin has never seen flooding like this in the 40 years our society has been managing the Michaud House property. More information found in this Aldergrove Star story.
A Year in the Garden
Sandra Reams is our long time tenant at historic Michaud House (built 1886) in Langley City who spends lots of time caring for the gardens. Langley Heritage Society president Fred Pepin (second on the left) built her a sturdy, raised garden bed in the spring. It took four people to help move it to the backyard. This is what it looked like after Sandra weaved her magic. Below: a clever trellis fashioned from used garden tools. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Rose is a rose is a rose. You never know what you'll find underfoot at historic Michaud House. This brick was manufactured by Clayburn Bricks in the Abbotsford area (there was a plant in Clayburn Village and later in Abbotsford itself). These bricks were used all over the world, including the Marine Building in Vancouver and parts of the Empress Hotel in Victoria. And during the summer [...]
With A Little Help From Our Friends
Michaud House tenant Sandra Reams sends these photos of three teenagers who volunteered to power wash, scrape and paint the fence, trellis and bench. Great job Mitchell & Cole Halkett and Kevin Wilkins! (Kevin is Sandra's grandson; Mitchell and Cole are grandsons of Susan Granger, who also helped.) Volunteer support like this helps keep our Langley Heritage Society historic buildings and properties in beautiful condition. More information and a video about Michaud House HERE. Mitchell works the power wash Kevin's skateboard makes a perfect dolly'. Susan Granger with grandsons Cole & Mitchell Halkett
Merry Michaud Christmas
Michaud House in Langley City is looking very cheery -- thanks to our tenant Sandra Reams. More about the history of this lovely farmhouse built in 1888 and managed by the Langley Heritage Society HERE: