Historic Alexandra Lodge

Ken & Shirley MacKinnon took on this labour of love about four years ago. The Alexandra Lodge was just about ready to return to the soil in the heart of the Fraser Canyon, but Ken’s skills as a carpenter are bringing back this historic stopping house on the Old Cariboo Wagon Road. (14 miles from Yale, it was the first stop for horses and wagons heading north to the gold fields). They hope to move into the fully renovated upper floor soon, with plans for a B&B and a small museum. You'll find more details on Facebook @TheHistoricAlexandraLodge If you look closely you can see square headed nails that help confirm this corner was part of the original 1863 construction. There are 3 or 4 layers of history as the building was altered over the last 150 years.   The upstairs is almost ready to become living [...]

2025-10-25T15:46:34+00:00October 25th, 2025|

The Simpson Legacy

Thanks to one of our volunteers, Bonnie Hartup, for sharing the story of Richard & Mary Simpson who were the heart and soul of the CNR Station in the early part of the last century. Their family home would later become the Simpson Private Hospital. Read the story HERE

2025-10-13T00:12:42+00:00October 13th, 2025|

The Simpson Legacy

Built in 1915, Fort Langley's historic Canadian Northern Railway station was the centre of development and creation of broader markets for Langley.  Just in time to operate the new station, fifty-nine old agent Richard Charles Simpson and his wife Josephine ”Mary” Simpson arrived in 1918 via Rosedale, BC and Dauphin, Manitoba. They set up home on the Trunk Road (now Glover) near the intersection of McClughan Road (today's 88th Avenue). The Simpson home on Trunk Road (Photo: salishan Place by the River) Richard was the son of William Simpson (born about 1808 in Scotland) and Matilda Hanlin (Hanlyn) born about 1825 in England.  Richard’s mother’s family had arrived in North America from England about 1833, first landing in New York, and then on to Upper Canada (Brant, Ontario). Most of his siblings were born in Brant, but all censuses indicate Richard was born in the USA.  His parents [...]

2025-11-24T22:44:22+00:00October 12th, 2025|

End of Season Thank You

And that's a wrap. The historic CNR Station is now closed for the season. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers for their dedication, and of course, thanks to our thousands of visitors from around the world. The Society's regular activities continue, including the Speaker Series on Oct 21st at Milner Chapel. Archaeologist Robert Muckle will share from his recently published book, "Once Upon This Land". If you'd like to become a LHS member, go HERE

2025-10-12T22:50:56+00:00October 12th, 2025|

Cranberries!

  The cranberry harvest is underway in Glen Valley. Indigenous people traded wild cranberries at the HBC post in Fort Langley in the 1800s. The berries were shipped to places like California for their high vitamin C content.  Today, most of Canada’s cranberries are grown in B.C. and Quebec.  The 30th annual Fort Langley Cranberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday October 11th. Bring on the turkey!  

2025-10-04T18:23:06+00:00October 4th, 2025|

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