Dixon House & Barn: A Century of Farming
Dixon House & Barn have been part of Langley’s agricultural heritage for more than 100 years. An award-winning restoration by the Langley Heritage Society — and the family who lived here — are the focus of this story, produced by students at Brookswood Secondary School. We were very pleased to receive this message from a family member: “I am one the grandsons of Jan & Catherine Van der Vegte. I just saw the video on the old family farm…It really brought tears to my eyes to see my grandparents and the farm.” Justin
Lattimer House at Milner
John Lattimer, an Irish born Great War veteran, was wounded twice but made it back to Milner, B.C.. He and his wife Nellie raised a family and were active in the community. The house still stands near the Milner Chapel, and was restored by the Langley Heritage Society. Meet his daughter (Betty Miller) and granddaughter (Marjory Miller) in this video.
Michaud House: The French Connection
The Michauds travelled west from Quebec in the 1870s to settle on Langley Prairie. They eventually built a farmhouse and watched the city of Langley grew up around them. The Beaulieu family also lived and farmed here for many years. Students from Brookswood Secondary School tell the story.
Wark/Dumais House: A Farm Classic
Langley Heritage Society saved and preserved this classic farmhouse in 1987. The students at Brookswood Secondary School’s Backstreet Studios created a video about one of Langley’s oldest homes, now an historic centrepiece on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Campus.
Fort Langley CN Station: When Rail Was King
Fort Langley Heritage society saved this 1915 era CN station from the wrecker’s ball in 1984. Thanks to students at Brookswood Secondary School’s Back Street Studios for creating this video that tells the story of a building that was at the heart of Langley life for decades.
BC Electric Railway’s Interurban
Ken Hodgson shot this film in 1948/49 and in 1950 during the last trip of the BC Electric Railway passenger service through the Fraser Valley. It includes narration by two former motormen, Frank Horne & Vic Sharman, with some wonderful scenes of a growing Langley — described by Frank as, “a pretty modern little town.” Thank you to Michael Taylor-Noonan, librarian with the Transit Museum Society for sharing this with Langley Heritage Society.
BC Electric Railway’s Interurban
Hop aboard the BC Electric, circa 1950 — when Abbotsford was a, “clean little town.” Some great play-by-play from former motorman, Fred Horn and Vic Sharman, who drove the car to capture this footage filmed by Ken Hodgson. This film makes the journey from Abbotsford to Chilliwack and back to New Westminster.
1958 – Year to Remember
Enjoy this City of Vancouver Archives find: 1958 footage celebrating the 100th anniversary of British Columbia. A Year to Remember includes a quick peak through the gates at the historic fort in Fort Langley, Vancouver street parades, tall ships & harbour scenes, Chinatown, indigenous dancers, collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge, and the PNE Parade featuring a Langley float shaped like the historic fort. It concludes with the last of the BC Electric Interurban fleet. Watch on the Vancouver Archives page HERE.
CN Station Memories
Step inside Fort Langley’s 1915 CNR station and learn about the arrival of the first British war bride, why the telegraph was developed and Royal whistle stops in Langley. This video was produced with students at Brookswood Secondary School — the latest in our series about heritage properties restored and managed by the Langley Heritage Society.
Life at CN Station
Fort Langley’s Diane Simpson grew up at CNR stations in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Her parents were employed as station agents, and were the last agents who lived at Fort Langley’s CNR Station. In this short video, Diane describes what life was like growing up beside the tracks, and the duties of station agents.
When the Interurbans Went Up In Smoke
Frank Horne was a Motorman on the BC Electric Interurban line until passenger service ended in 1950. In this film footage we hear his reaction to watching the last of the old wooden cars burn beneath the Burrard Street Bridge.