A Barn Is Reborn
The Langley Heritage Society has saved and preserved heritage structures in Langley Township for more than 40 years. Some of these buildings have received official Township heritage site designations, including the Fort Langley CNR Station and Dixon House & Barn project; they also appear on the register of Canada’s Historic Places. We’re proud of this record of heritage preservation and restoration.
Our recently completed project: The Old Yale Barn (circa 1915) is a hip-roofed structure that served as a dairy barn for decades. It reflects the story of farming’s development, which continues to be an important underpinning of the local economy. The barn sits inside the Township’s Old Yale Park, directly beside a community garden, walking trail and off-leash dog area. It was in serious need of repair, with portions of the roof and siding missing, the structure was open to the elements and needed prompt attention. It is also important owl habitat.
Langley Heritage Society replaced the roof and siding, and reinforced the structure with new beams, plywood and siding at our expense. The barn will continue to be managed by the Township of Langley’s Recreation, Culture & Parks Department.
The Great Northern Railway laid track through this area; Old Yale Road is an historic transportation route; and some of Langley’s earliest farms were established in the immediate area. It’s rich in possibilities for historical interpretation and complements themes outlined in the Township’s ‘Our Shared History’ document.
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The Langley Heritage Society works to engage youth with local history — this includes sponsoring school visits to the Langley Centennial Museum (now salishan Place by the River) and offering a $1,000 Bays Blackhall Memorial Scholarship. The Society also committed $60,000 towards equipping new classroom space at Salishan Place by the River.
A series of videos produced with students at Brookswood Secondary School highlight some of our restored buildings — Fort Langley’s 1915 CNR Station, Wark/Dumais House, Michaud House, Dixon House & barn, and Lattimer House in Milner. If you have stories, photos or anecdotes about these buildings, and the people who lived in them, please contact us: [email protected] Watch the student videos HERE.
