Langley Heritage Society is adding its voice to those calling for preservation of the old Aldergrove Fire Hall. (Photo: Alder Grove Heritage Society)

 

Mayor and Council
Township of Langley

It has come to our attention that the Aldergrove Fire Hall is at risk of being demolished by the Township of Langley. Langley Heritage Society adds its voice to those calling for preservation of this building. Constructed in 1959 by volunteer labour, the former fire hall has a unique connection with the community, and still offers much potential.

Alder Grove Heritage Society is recommending the building become a “community heritage resource” to house their overflowing archival collection, and possibly a community meeting space. We support this concept and urge Township of Langley to further consult with the community.

Restoration work by the previous owners (the Robinson family) resulted in a Heritage Conservation Award from the Langley Heritage Society. Their work provided a perfect example of how a well constructed, seismically upgraded building can find a new, useful  purpose. We hope this will continue to be the case in the future and request that you halt any plans to bulldoze this treasured Aldergrove asset.

Sincerely

 

Fred Pepin
President
Langley Heritage Society

**Update from Alder Grove Heritage Society

“Earlier this evening (Monday January 21st) AGHS members Michelle and Michael presented our Society’s request to Langley Township Council in regards to preserving the old fire hall and working together to turn it into a community space stewarded by our Society. The presentation went well, and earlier today Council, upon a motion made by Councillor Richter at an in-camera meeting on 14th January, and a subsequent motion made earlier today by Councillor Long, an assessment of the building will take place to consider its merit as a heritage building, taking into account that a portion of its intrinsic value as a heritage site is not tangible nor related to the construction or the architecture the old fire hall – it is a statement of this community’s history – to the men and women who built Aldergrove, who instilled the values citizens of today appreciate and echo. All in all, today was a win-win for both “sides” and hopefully the beginning of a conversation that will see the retention of the fire hall building and the development of a new archival and community meeting space.”