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 [...]

2024-11-22T06:18:46+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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