The Beaver Appreciation Tour

The much-maligned beaver has a hero in Langley Heritage Society member Ted Lightfoot. To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, and the place of Castor canadensis in our history, Ted towed a trailer emblazoned with “Beep For Beaver” Appreciation Tour across the country. Inside was a diorama-like display featuring a trio of sculpted beavers, a Hudson’s Bay Company fur bundle, a gnawed stump and a photo of a beaver pond situated on his property near the headwaters of West Creek. (This pond was originally a man-made detention pond until the beavers started their makeover.) A wooden canoe lashed to the trailer reminded people of its essential role in the fur trade and of aboriginal peoples’ innovation. The beaver is described as a “keystone species”, creating wetland habitat for other animals like fish, birds and otters. Considered a nuisance by some because of their habit of damming creeks and destroying trees, there are [...]

2020-05-27T05:59:55+00:00October 29th, 2018|

100th Anniversary of Armistice: Langley Heritage Society Donates Important Resource to Local Schools

Langley School Trustee Chair, Rob McFarlane (left) and Jim Foulkes, Director Langley Heritage Society during the book presentation, on September 25, 2018 (Photo Credit:  Ken Hoff, Communications Manager, SD 35) The Langley Heritage Society has recently donated copies of the book, Canucks in Khaki: Langley, the Lower Mainland and the Great War of 1914 to 1918 to every school in Langley School District 35.  The book, written by BC author, Warren Sommer, is a finely researched documentation of the experiences of Langley participants in the First World War, both in the trenches of Europe and also on the home front.  Mark Forsythe, Langley Heritage Society Vice President, described the book as “a masterful survey of how British Columbia’s men, women, and communities rose to the greatest challenge of their lives.” This year, November 11, 2018 takes on special significance as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the [...]

2020-05-27T05:59:55+00:00October 23rd, 2018|

Royal Engineer to Reeve: New Online Exhibit

The Langley Centennial Museum's exhibit about the life and times of Philip Jackman, From Royal Engineer to Reeve, is now online via the Virtual Museum of Canada. From the website: "Jackman engaged in many ventures in the almost 70 years he spent in British Columbia. He sought fortune in the Cariboo gold rush, worked at the province’s first psychiatric institution, was a night watchman in New Westminster, mutinied while under the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railway, acted as a Fisheries Officer on the Fraser River, farmed and owned a general store in Aldergrove, served as Reeve of the Township of Langley, and outlived all other members of the Columbia Detachment of Royal Engineers." For more, visit HERE.

2020-05-27T05:59:56+00:00October 23rd, 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|

Speaker Series: Daniel Francis on Oct 23d

Next in the Speaker Series: Governor General Award for History winner Daniel Francis on his new book, Where Mountains Meet The Sea  -- a history of North Vancouver. Join us at Milner Chapel on October 23rd. More information about the Speaker Series HERE.

2020-05-27T05:59:56+00:00October 12th, 2018|

Valley Voices for October

Valley Voices is a monthly production of the Langley Heritage Society and broadcast on CIVL Radio at the University of the Fraser Valley. Host Mark Forsythe dips into local history, people and places. On October's show hear historian Daniel Marshall discuss the mostly forgotten Canyon War of 1858, and meet Carsten Arnold, a Chilliwack photographer on a mission to document old barns and homes in the area. Listen HERE.  Casten Arnold, Chilliwack photographer and member of the Heritage Chilliwack Society at the Ray Carman barn.        

2020-05-27T05:59:56+00:00October 11th, 2018|

That’s A Wrap: CN Station closes following memorable season

It's been a fun and rewarding season at the heritage CN Station in Fort Langley. Manager Helen Williams and volunteers have wrapped up the 2018 season and are planning for next year. Thousands of Lower Mainlanders and others from around the world toured the station, caboose and passenger car over the last 5 months. Please return in 2019! Pictured above: Super Volunteer Gerry Landsman, chief engineer on the Glen Valley Model Railroad.

2020-05-27T05:59:56+00:00October 11th, 2018|

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