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

Eighty Years Ago

January 28, 1932

Electors in Langley decided, 124 votes to 98, against allowing sale of "beer by the glass." The plebiscite was held in the Sunday School building.

William Lawrence was elected chairman of Langley School Board.

Seventy Years Ago

January 29, 1942

Langley Board of Trade sent a strongly worded letter of protest to MP Tom Reid, opposing the Liberal government's proposal to hold a referendum on military conscription. The board felt the referendum process to be "an act of weakness when power and strength should be exhibited." Opposition to conscription, particularly in the Liberals' Quebec stronghold, was creating a great deal of hard feelings across the country.

Sixty Years Ago

January 31, 1952

W.R. Shanks was re-appointed restor's warden of St. Andrew's Anglican Church. F. Stovel was elected people's warden, J.H. Condo vestry clerk, and T. Winget treasurer.

The municipality formally enquired of B.C. Electric when a bus terminal could be expected in Langley Prairie. The company president had promised that the Fraser Valley's first depot would be built in Langley, but in fact, other communities were closer to the front of the line.

Fifty Years Ago

February 1, 1962

The Old Age Pension was due to be increased to $65 per month, as were pensions to the blind, disabled, and the needy who were aged 65 to 69.

Forty Years Ago

January 27, 1972

Sgt. Bob Crawford assumed command of Langley's RCMP detachment, replacing S/Sgt. Wally MacGuire as head of the unit.

Supreme Honoured Royal Lady Eileen Shirley visited the Langley chapter of the Order of the Royal Purple.

Aldergrove Agricultural Association celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Thirty Years Ago

January 27, 1982

Costs of clean-up after snow and freezing rain storms were already threatening the entire year's public works budget in both the City and the Township.

Former federal finance minister John Crosbie spoke in Langley, blasting the Liberal government's economic policy.

Langley Chamber of Commerce reiterated its support for industrial development of 626 acres of North Aldergrove land by Gloucester Properties.

Twenty Years Ago

January 29, 1992

Although a referendum for a Walnut Grove community centre had been defeated four years earlier, Township council gave the go-ahead to build it anyway.

A woman who drove past a stop sign and killed four members of a Langley family was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

A fire that was believed to be a case of arson ripped through the administrative offices at Fort Langley National Historic Park. The park's library, filled with historical reference material, was hit hardest.

Langley's "dangerous dog" bylaw was struck down in B.C. Supreme Court.

Ten Years Ago

January 29, 2002

Teachers in Langley and across the province walked off the job to protest a legislated contract forced on them.

February 1, 2002

A Brookswood Bobcats coach who had been living under an assumed name for the past 30 years was arrested to face the music for a crime he'd committed in the United States. The local secondary school girls team coach had been convicted of conspiring to sell cocaine in Chicago in 1972, and was sentenced to five years in prison before he disappeared into Canada.