Langley Heritage Society

DIXON BARN: Heritage restoration work in progress

heritage2011 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:49:59 +0000

The restoration of the Dixon Barn is a current project of the Langley Heritage Society

Built in 1916-1918 for Herbert and Emily Dixon, the house and barn sit on land that had been part of the Hudson’s Bay Company Farm in the 19th Century. The location on Glover Road is particularly important for its physical connection to the community of Milner – an area that expanded once the British Columbia Electric Railway established its new route in 1910.
Herbert Dixon is important because he is the son of BC pioneer Alfred Black Dixon, who settled in BC in 1889. Herbert and Emily continued in the pioneering traditions of Alfred by establishing a home and business in Langley during a period (World War 1) that offered no guarantees and that was stressful for farming families.
The 40 acre property is now owned by the Township of Langley which has restored the attractive house with its wrap-around verandah and projecting bay windows. While typical of the World War 1 era, the house is significant because it is one of the most intact farm houses in the community with few, if any, alterations. It is grander than other farm houses which may speak to the financial status of the Dixon family and their desire to show it.
The Langley Heritage Society is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the house and barn. The barn, used to shelter dairy cows and store supplies, is characteristic of its era, but significant for being extant with the house. Barns were unique indicators of a family’s financial situation and this one said “prosperity”.
The Langley Heritage Society is currently in the process of completely restoring the barn to complement the landmark status of the Dixon House.
Both the Dixon House and Barn have heritage bylaw designation by Langley Township as of September of 2004. The farmsite is a cultural signpost for Langley.

2011 Heritage Conservation Awards

heritage2011 — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:36:45 +0000

Three private-property owners have been recognized for heritage conservation, in an award program established by the Langley Heritage Society.
The recipients include Maureen and Rob Robinson’s Milsean Shoppe, Quadra Homes and HJ Properties’ Yorkson Creek development and Ted and Lynda Lightfoot’s Henry Leaf Residence.
The awards and recognition plaques were presented at the annual general meeting of the Heritage Society on Friday evening.
Recognition was given to the Milsean Shoppe which occupies the old Aldergrove Fire Hall built by volunteer effort and donations in 1959. With the construction of a new fire hall in 2000, Langley Township offered the old site and building for sale. Maureen and Rob Robinson subsequently became the new owners and determined that the old structure could be renovated to suit their needs. Heritage Society President Fred Pepin, one of the volunteers during construction, reminisced about the community effort it took to build the fire hall. He said that the Robinsons’ creative renovation saved an important piece of Langley’s history. Not only does the old fire hall now house a candy factory, coffee shop and upstairs residence for the owners but it has also helped revitalize downtown Aldergrove. Ann and Bob Hall accepted the award on behalf of their daughter Maureen and son-in-law Rob who were unable to attend the meeting. Ann told the audience about the history of Milsean “sweets” starting out as a tiny cottage industry and becoming a huge success requiring all the space the old fire hall provided.

President Fred presents award to Ann and Bob Hall, parents of Maureen Robinson

The Yorkson Creek development by Quadra Homes and HJ Properties won recognition for saving three buildings important to the history of the Willoughby area. The development has incorporated the 1922 Willoughby Church, the 1925 Jones Residence and the 1930s Campbell Residence as homes into a new residential community. The exterior of all three buildings were restored with as much historical accuracy as possible. The interior of each building has high quality finishes such as real hardwood floors and fine woodwork. The Willoughby Church, first as Methodist than United, served the community from 1922 until 1965. David Jones was a prominent Willoughby resident serving on Township Council in the late 1920s and later as a Justice of the Peace. Tom and Dorothy Campbell operated the general store beside their home and were a big part of Willoughby when it was still quite an isolated rural community. Fred Pepin presented the award to Quadra’s Shawn Bouchard who said his company was pleased to help in preserving a part of Langley’s heritage.

President Fred presents award to Quadra's Shawn Bouchard

The Heritage Society also recognized the expert restoration of the Henry Leaf Residence by Ted and Lynda Lightfoot. Leaf was a blacksmith by trade and emigrated from England, first to Ontario then BC. He and his wife, Louise, settled in North East Langley when it was very isolated. Henry built the one and a half storey home with square hewn logs in 1897. The Leafs developed a successful dairy farm and became quite prosperous. Fred Pepin thanked the Lightfoots for their expert restoration and preservation of a building that represents an important part of Langley’s early settlement.

President Fred presents award to Ted and Lynda Lightfoot

The awards program, now in its second year, has three categories for award eligibility. The Lightfoots were recognized for their preservation of a designated heritage building. The Robinsons’ Milsean Shoppe was honored for the adaptive re-use of a building with heritage interest. Quadra Homes and HJ Properties received the award for incorporating heritage into the newly built environment.
The Heritage Society will continue the program by keeping track of heritage related projects in Langley and each year select a maximum of one award in each of the three categories

Ted & Lynda Lightfoot: 2011 Heritage Conservation Award

heritage2011 — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:42:12 +0000

The heritage conservation award for preservation of a designated heritage building went to Ted and Lynda Lightfoot for their expert restoration of the Henry Leaf Residence. Located on 272nd Street in northeast Langley, the house is significant as a surviving pioneer house built at a time and in a place where transportation links were considerably few and far between. Today, however, the home is surrounded by the Gloucester Industrial Park.

The Leaf Residence, a surviving pioneer house in North East Langley

Back in 1897 when Henry Leaf and his wife, Louisa, settled there it was a very isolated location for a homestead. Henry was a blacksmith by trade and emigrated from England, first to Ontario then BC. Their 1 ½ storey home was originally built of square hewn logs by Henry with the help of neighbours.

Built of square hewn logs by Henry Leaf in 1897

Despite the isolated location, Henry and Louisa developed a successful dairy farm and became quite prosperous. In 1929 the house was reclad with cedar shingles and the front veranda with decorative supports and eave brackets were also added.

Expert restoration work in progress by Lightfoots

The Leafs were an important pioneer family and are well-remembered for hosting an annual May 24 weekend picnic for the neighbours. Henry remained on the farm until it sold in 1940 and moved with his second wife (Mary Jane Sinclair) to Murrayville.

Ted and Lynda Lightfoot in front of Henry Leaf Residence

Thank you to Ted and Lynda Lightfoot for restoring and preserving the Henry Leaf Residence as an important piece of Langley’s heritage.

Quadra Homes & HJ Properties: 2011 Heritage Conservation Award

heritage2011 — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:54:59 +0000

This year’s award for incorporating heritage into the newly built environment went to Quadra Homes and HJ Properties. Their new residential community, Yorkson Creek, in the Willoughby area of Langley Township will include three restored buildings important to the area’s history.
The Willoughby Methodist Church built in 1922, changed to United in 1925, was a big part of community life in Willoughby. The church was constructed by volunteers on donated land and served the community until 1965. It was subsequently used as a residence. The modest craftsman-style architecture was also typical for residential buildings in the area.

Willoughby Church served from 1922 to 1965, subsequently became a residence

Restoration of the 1922 Willoughby Church almost complete

The David Jones Residence, a modest craftsman bungalow, was built around 1925. Its first owner, David Jones, was a prominent Willoughby citizen. He served on Township Council in the late 1920’s and was also a Justice of the Peace.

Restoration of the 1925 Jones Residence almost complete

The Campbell Residence built between 1930 and 1940 was a modest 1 storey wood-frame home for Tom & Dorothy Campbell who operated a general store beside their home. Their home was built around the same time as a number of other structures (community hall, school, gas station) in what was quite an isolated rural community at the time.

Restoration of the 1930s Campbell Residence almost complete

Shawn Bouchard, the development manager in charge of the housing development including the restoration of the three heritage buildings, accepted the heritage conservation award on behalf of Quadra Homes and HJ Properties.

Campbell Residence, Willoughby Church and Jones Residence

Milsean Shoppe: 2011 Heritage Conservation Award

heritage2011 — Sun, 01 May 2011 18:14:59 +0000

Milsean Shoppe in renovated old Aldergrove Fire Hall on 272nd Street

In the category of best example of an adaptive re-use of a building with heritage interest, Maureen and Rob Robinson were honoured for the renovation of the old Aldergrove Fire Hall for their Milsean Shoppe.
Milsean (meel-shawn) is Gaelic for “Sweet Things”. The Robinsons’ family-operated business is located in the Fraser Valley in Aldergrove where the rolling hills are reminiscent of Ireland, the birthplace of Maureen’s ancestors. It is this heritage that inspired Maureen, her husband Rob and their children Scott and Clare, in their quest for the most decadent sweets, from an old family recipe.
By renovating the old Aldergrove Fire Hall for their Milsean Shoppe, they kept an interesting part of Langley’s history. Fire Hall # 3 was built on Jackman Road (272nd St) in 1959 with a huge volunteer effort and many donations. Fred Pepin remembers helping to dig the septic field, as he was the only one around with a decent backhoe.
The volunteer fire department was involved in all kinds of community events and the hall was important part of community life in Aldergrove.
The 2011 Heritage Conservation Award was presented with thanks to the Robinsons for rescuing the building from demolition and giving it new life and contributing to the revitalization of Aldergrove.

Willoughby volunteers that made a difference

heritage2011 — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:18:01 +0000

SHIRLEY AND ROY BAKER
Willoughby Volunteers that Made a Difference by Al Irwin, at the request of Langley Heritage Society
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It was an unfortunate fire that brought Roy and Shirley Baker back to Langley. But for the Township of Langley, it could be called a fortuitous fire, because the couple stayed, and became stalwart volunteers in their community.
Daughter Linda Baker recalls that her parents had been planning to build a new home in Surrey and Roy had lumber already piled on the lot, when the Willoughby house Roy had bought from his father had burned down.
Because the insurance company would only cover the loss if the home was rebuilt to be lived in, Roy and Shirley decided to move all the lumber from the Surrey lot to the Willoughby lot, and to rebuild their first home there. They were no strangers to Langley.
Roy had been born in 1931 in Willoughby, and raised on Alexander Road (now 208 Street) the son of Ernest Edgar and Elizabeth (nee Treliving) Baker. Roy had an older brother Gordon, and a sister, Lillian.
Roy attended school both at Willoughby Elementary, and at Milner. After attending high school at the original Langley Secondary School on Fraser Highway, Roy took a job at Canadian White Pine lumber mill in New Westminster, and became a planerman. Both Roy and his brother, Gordon, as young men, served as volunteer firemen in the Willoughby area.
Shirley was born in Vancouver, in 1936, but her father, George Burdett, had grown up in Langley, and Shirley’s mother Frances in Port Kells. Shirley had a brother Robert, still living, and a little sister, Arlene, also deceased. Mother Frances is still living. She is 95, and lives at Harrison Landing.
Although Shirley began her schooling at Henry Hudson Elementary School in Vancouver, the Burdett’s moved to West Langley when Shirley was about 8 or 9 years old. She attended West Langley Elementary School and later Langley Senior Secondary.
Linda Baker recalls a family tradition of community involvement and volunteerism. Both her parents, as children, were participants in the community life that revolved around their respective Community Halls. Shirley’s parents, and her grandparents, George Sr. and Ada Burdett, helped build the West Langley Hall, along with their brother-in-law, George Kirby. And her father Roy remembered being put to bed on a pile of coats with other young children, in the corner of Willoughby Community Hall, while his parents danced to music from a record player.
After Roy and Shirley moved their lumber from the Surrey lot to Willoughby, to rebuild the burned out house, they remained in Willoughby, although they built and moved to two new homes, all in Willoughby, Linda said.
Karl Dreise, president of the Willoughby Community Hall Society, said “Both were very community oriented,” of the Bakers. Shirley was an early member of the Langley Willoughby Women’s Community Institute, and also very much involved in the Heritage Society, he said. “Whenever we had a problem (at the hall) I could count on Roy and a few other neighbours being there lickety-split,” Dreise said.
Alice Johnson, a long-time volunteer with the Willoughby Hall Society said that Shirley Baker was also an organizer for the Baby Clinic for more than 30 years. Shirley won the Volunteer of the Year award from the Fraser Health Authority in 2007. “She was our membership secretary for Willoughby Hall, and for the Women’s Institute,” said Johnson.
Linda said her father Roy, as well as being a volunteer handyman at the hall, always made the potatoes for the Harvest Dinner, as well as taking part in maintenance required after the dances. At the hall dinners, Shirley took memberships for the hall, said Alice Johnson.
Roy died in May, 2002, while Shirley passed away in June of 2009. In addition to daughter Linda, the couple has a son, David. David lives in Merritt with his wife Susan, and daughters Lauren and Justine.
Shirley Baker left in her will money for the Langley Heritage Society, which the society proposes to use for an enhancement project at the Willoughby Community Hall to commemorate the couple’s community volunteerism.

The Willoughby Community Hall as it looked in 1982

Willoughby Hall helped by Heritage Matters Concert

heritage2011 — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:56:02 +0000

Cole Armour with Source Dance Company at Heritage Matters Concert -photo L Meneely

Arts benefit Langley’s heritage In the early 1920s the Willoughby neighbourhood in Langley Township did not even have a school. Through volunteer effort, the Willoughby Community Hall was built in 1924 so that local children had a place to go to classes.
Today the Willoughby Hall, a designated heritage site and still run by volunteers, continues to serve the community. Down the road the one-room school built in 1931 is also a heritage site and now used as a day care on the grounds of the Willoughby Elementary School.
These reminders of Langley’s heritage stand in the face of urbanization with subdivisions, town homes, apartments and a commercial town centre.
At the October 24, 2010 annual Harvest Dinner in the Willoughby Hall the result of a fundraiser by the arts community to help conserve the Hall was announced. The Heritage Matters Concert at Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley on October 17th raised over $16,000 for the conservation cause.
The 310-seat theatre sold out for performances by TKO, Liana Savard, Ryan Faas and Cole Armour.
An acrylic painting of the Willoughby Hall by Langley’s Dean of Art, Al Colton, sold for $3,200 in a brief live auction during the evening.
The funds raised will be combined with money the Langley Heritage Society has earmarked for an enhancement project at the Hall in memory of dedicated Willoughby volunteers, Shirley and Roy Baker.
Willoughby Hall Society President, Karl Dreise, thanked the Birthplace of B.C. Gallery for organizing the successful fundraiser.
Full restoration of the Hall onto a new foundation is a condition of development on the adjoining lands. Plans include an office building, apartments, and an Irish Cultural Centre. Commencement of construction including the restoration work on the Willoughby Hall will commence in the later part of 2011.

Heritage Matters Concert Photos

heritage2011 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:00:50 +0000

The Heritage Matters Concert on October 17, 2010 at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley was organized by the Birthplace of B.C. Gallery to raise funds to help with the restoration of the Willoughby Community Hall in memory of Shirley and Roy Baker. Photos courtesy Larry Meneely.

The 310 seat Chief Sepass Theatre was sold out for Heritage Matters Concert

Ryan Faas, jazz pianist, opening act, Heritage Matters Concert

Carl Korytko, the dad part of TKO, the Amazing Father-Son Guitar Duo

Joel Korytko, the son part of TKO, the Amazing Father-Son Guitar Duo

Painting of Willoughby Hall by Al Colton raised $3,200 in live auction

Auctioneer Jim Marsh with MC Kurt Alberts holding socks knit by Alice Johnson

Intermission snacks courtesy Willoughby Women's Institute

Jazz vocalist Liana Savard, a class act

Ryan Faas and Tim Stacey accompany Liana Savard

Duet by Liana and Howie sing May I Have This Dance, a tribute to Shirley and Roy Baker

Surprise guest Howie Vickberg of Collectors' fame

Cole Armour entertained the sold out audience

12 year old Cole Armour steals the show with River Deep, Mountain High

Cole Armour with The Source Dance Company

Karl Dreise, President Willoughby Hall Society (right), thanked organizers Kurt and Brenda Alberts

Willoughby Hall: Heritage Revitalization Agreement Signed

heritage2011 — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:00:49 +0000

President Karl Dreise and Executive Board Member, Alice Johnson sign HRA

The President of the Willoughby Hall Society, Karl Dreise, and Secretary, Alice Johnson, signed the Heritage Revitalization Agreement that will provide for the restoration of the Willoughby Hall. The Agreement is a three party arrangement including the Hall Society, Athenry Developments and the Township of Langley.
Under the Agreement Athenry Developments is responsible for at least $500,000 worth of restoration work to the Hall including a new foundation and adding a basement. The Hall will remain on its prominent corner at 208th Street and 83rd Avenue but shift approximately 20 feet to the northeast.
An accompanying land exchange will increase the Hall’s property from 5,000 sq ft to half an acre.
The restoration work is a condition of Athenry’s development application on adjoining lands including an Irish Cultural Centre, an office building and apartments. The Heritage Revitalization Agreement and Athenry’s development application will be the subject of an upcoming public hearing.
In addition to the restoration work by the developer, additional funds have been committed by the Langley Heritage Society as the Baker Memorial Project. A fundraising concert is also scheduled for Oct 17, 2010 to increase the potential scope of work in preserving the Willoughby Community Hall.

2010 Heritage Conservation Awards

heritage2011 — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 00:36:24 +0000

Three private-property owners have been recognized for heritage conservation, in a new award program established by the Langley Heritage Society.
The recipients include the congregation of the St. Andrew’s United Church, the owners of Fort Langley’s Beatniks Bistro and ParkLane Homes, for its housing development, Bedford Landing.
The awards, and commemorative plaques, were presented at the annual general meeting of the Langley Heritage Society on April 29, 2010.
The sanctuary of St. Andrews was built in 1885, at the corner of St. Andrews Street and Glover Road, on property donated by James Mackie, Langley’s first warden (mayor).
The recent work involved restoring rotting beams under the church and including a full basement under the original building.
It was a difficult project, because the building, fixed at one end to the steeple, at the other to the church hall, could not be raised while the work was undertaken.

Marvin Woolley with Fred Pepin, President of the Heritage Society

Marvin Woolley, who co-ordinated the project with another member of the congregation, Eric Sigalet, praised the entire congregation for its work on the project.
“We are very proud of our church. Yes, we have been here for 125 years, but we plan on being here for another 125 years,” Woolley told the heritage society members.
Beatniks Bistro owner Matt Choquette told the society that the contractor couldn’t believe he planned to reuse the old siding. “But we did it, and it is very beautiful,” said Choquette.
Choquette and his wife Jan had the building lifted by a large crane, and set down in the back yard while a new foundation was built. They reused the flooring, and all the original shiplap. The asphalt shingles were replaced with cedar shingles, the original roofing material, and the vinyl windows restored to wood-framed windows.

Jan and Matt Choquette of Beatniks Bistro

Langley Heritage Society president Fred Pepin said that were it not for the Choquettes, the old house, built in 1933 for the owner of Moorehouse Bus Lines, would likely have been lost to Fort Langley’s streetscape.
ParkLane Homes’ Bedford Landing residential development won recognition for saving many large artifacts from the site of the old McDonald Cedar Mill on Bedford Channel in Fort Langley, and the preservation of local history through street names and signage.
Log boom cranes, a hydraulic debarker and a pump house are among the artifacts on display along the Fort to Fort Trail. Interpretive signage explains the use of the old equipment.

Harrison Han accepts Award for Parklane

The developer’s award also recognizes public access provided to the waterfront and the Fort to Fort Trail and a network of other trails on the old mill site, they use the names of early residents on streets and trails, and interpretive signs, including old photographs, which note the history and environment of the area.
Pepin said “ParkLane has set a very high standard that we hope other developers in the community will live up to.”
Harrison Han, who accepted the award for Parklane, said the project “is an example of what is possible with the right kind of collaboration between the developer and the community.”
The new awards program has three categories for award eligibility. St. Andrews was recognized for the preservation of a heritage building. Beatniks Bistro’s owners were honored for the adaptive re-use of a building while respecting its heritage relevance.
Bedford Landing received the award for incorporating many aspects of local history in a new development.
The Heritage Society will continue the program by keeping track of heritage related projects in Langley and each year select a maximum of one award in each of the three categories