[Bcma-l] HBC Fort Langley Farm Research by Langley Centennial Museum

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

Early Langley Farm History Explored

The early days of farming in the Township of Langley will be unearthed
by Dr. K. Jane Watt in her new research project on the Hudson's Bay
Company (HBC) Fort Langley farm. She has a wealth of previous experience
in the field of agricultural history and is the author of Milk Stories:
A History of the Dairy Industry in British Columbia. This new local
history research is being sponsored by the Langley Centennial Museum &
National Exhibition Centre. 

Watt will explore the background of the HBC farm from its inception in
1827, its later expansion to 800 hectares on Langley Prairie surrounding
modern day Milner, and right up to its impact on modern agriculture in
the Township. 

The HBC farm is extremely important to the history of the settlement and
agricultural development of Langley and the outline of the farm remains
visible on the land and from the air today 175 years later. At its peak
under the HBC, the farm produced potatoes, barley, peas and wheat and
maintained a stock of 200 pigs and 500 head of cattle. Its influence
also spread far beyond the local setting and touched on both provincial
and federal agricultural policies as well as international trade. 

Watt will examine many aspects of this little-studied history such as
the conditions before agriculture was introduced on a large scale in
Langley by the HBC, the resulting impact on local First Nations, the
methods and daily rhythms of the farm work, and the influence of the HBC
farm on modern agriculture in the Township and beyond.

As the year-long research project proceeds, the public will have a
chance to become involved in the research when the Langley Centennial
Museum will be hosting a series of "farm forums."  These consultations
will invite input from a wide variety of sources on topics such as the
impact of the gold rush on agriculture, the sale of the HBC farm, and
contemporary perspectives on the impact and the footprint of the HBC
farm that remains today. The future farm forums will be announced over
the next few months. Those interested in attending may contact Paul
Thistle at the Museum (604) 888-3922 or pthistle@tol.bc.ca .

The outcome of the research will be a detailed report on the history of
the HBC farm and a collection of maps and other resources that will be
available for future use in the Langley Centennial Museum's archives and
research facility. Among the many important uses of this new research
will be the creation of new exhibits on the history of agricultural
development in the Township.

The Langley Centennial Museum is a department of the Township of Langley
that aims to connect and involve people with their cultural heritage.
Located at 9135 King Street in Fort Langley, the Museum is open Monday
through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 to
4:45 pm. Admission is free of charge. Log on to www.langleymuseum.org .

Respectfully yours
 
Paul C. Thistle
 
Curator
Langley Centennial Museum 
& National Exhibition Centre
P.O. Box 800
Fort Langley, BC, V1M 2S2
(604) 888-3922
www.langleymuseum.org