Langley's history, as recorded in the files of the Langley Advance.

Eighty Years Ago

January 14, 1932

Roy E. Mountain was elected president of the Langley Teachers' Association. Don Rogers was elected vice-president, and Miss Margaret Shortreed won the secretary-treasurer's post.

Seventy Years Ago

January 15, 1942

The Langley Police Commission wanted the speed limit through Langley Prairie reduced, because 20 miles per hour (30 km/h) was considered too fast for a congested area.

The Department of National Defence decided to move all Canadians of Japanese descent away from the West Coast. The action came less than the attack on Pearl Harbour and Japan's entry into World War Two.

Sixty Years Ago

January 17, 1952

An outbreak of Newcastle disease flared up in poultry operations throughout the district. The devastating livestock disease had first appeared in Langley two years earlier.

Fifty Years Ago

January 18, 1962

The heaviest snowfall in eight years hit the Lower Mainland, dumping 15 inches (38 cm) on Langley in the course of a day.

Langley's fleet of school buses transported an average of 1,278 high school and 2,255 elementary students 1,122 miles (1,800 km) per day.

Property adjacent to Aldergrove's fire hall was purchased for a new post office.

Forty Years Ago

January 13, 1972

Mrs. Mary Douglas was elected chairman of Langley School Board.

Flow rate of 900 gallons per minute was recorded at a new well brought in by Langley Township on Jackman Rd. (272nd St.). The 126-foot well was intended to provide all of Aldergrove village's water needs.

Building starts reached an all-time high in 1971, reaching a total value of $19,727, 450.

Thirty Years Ago

January 13, 1982

A Brookswood home exploded, the result of a leaking propane cylinder in the basement. A woman was burned over 60 per cent of her body, while her husband received less serious burns. Both had been in the basement, near the cylinder, when the explosion occurred. The two managed to rescue their children from the home before assistance arrived.

Township council expressed shock at a proposed $8 million increase in the School Board's budget.

Twenty Years Ago

January 15, 1992

A delegation from the Alder Grove Heritage Society asked Township council for help in saving an 82-year-old building from imminent demolition, as the property it was located on was slated for redevelopment. The society wanted to move the building to where it could be used as a caretaker's residence for Aldergrove Park, as a tourist information centre, or as a telephone history museum.

Township Council "respectfully declined" an overture from a Barnston Island committee aimed at eventually removing the island from Surrey and annexing it to Langley.

Ten Years Ago

January 18, 2002

Langley MLAs Rich Coleman and Lynn Stephens defended the BC Liberal government announcement that 11,500 civil service jobs were to be cut from the public payroll.