Viewing Object

Object Description

Object ID

1991.049.001

Artist

Meakin, Alfred

Title

Plate commemorating the visit of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth to Canada.

Date

1939.

Description

Square, Marigold, Astoria Shape plate commemorating the visit of King George and Queen Elizabeth to Canada. "Compliments of P. Y. Porter, General Merchant, Murrayville, B.C." is at the bottom of the plate in gold capital letters. Portraits of the King and Queen are in the centre of the plate in gold and surrounded by flags, topped by a crown, under which reads "1939". "King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Royal Visit to Canada." In each of the four corners is a miniature portrait of the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. They are encircled by gold leaf with a crown on top.

People/Subject

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

George VI, King of England (1895-1952)

On the throne from 1937-1952.

Porter, Philip Young (P.Y.)

Philip Young Porter, known as P. Y., was born on September 15, 1890, in Ontario, to George E. Porter and Margaret Smith. The family came to Vancouver around 1891, and came to Langley in 1897, settling in the Murrayville area. Philip Young (PY) Porter began working for the Murrayville General Store in 1912 following a short stint as a blacksmith. Philip married Eleanor (Nellie) Agnes Powell in Vancouver on June 11, 1913. He continued his employment with the store when Seth Witton purchased it two years later. PY became the local postmaster in 1916 and eventually bought the store from Witton in 1917. Porter employed Ab Sherritt and Mr. Crockett to do extensive renovations in the late 1930's and the "new" P. Y. Porter General Merchandise store was completed in 1939. P.Y. ran the store for many years but gave the daily management of it over to his son Eldon (a.k.a. Eldy) in the late 1950's. P.Y. continued to help out until 1971 when he finally retired. Philip died on January 1, 1988.

Porter's General Store

The original store on this site (now 21611 48th Ave., Murrayville) was built in 1889 but had burnt down in 1896. The second store built here was owned by H. A. MacDonald, who sold it to W. F. Andrews and J. W. Lee in 1911. Still in his school years, Philip Young (PY) Porter began working for them in 1912 following a short stint as a blacksmith. P.Y. continued his employment with the store when Seth Witton purchased it two years later. PY became the local postmaster in 1916 and eventually bought the store from Witton in 1917. Porter employed Ab Sherritt and Mr. Crockett to do extensive renovations in the late 1930's and the "new" P. Y. Porter General Merchandise store was completed in 1939. P.Y. ran the store for many years but gave the daily management of it over to his son Eldon (a.k.a. Eldy) in the late 1950's. Eldon demolished the remaining section of the pre-1900 store and added a coat of stucco. P.Y. continued to help out until 1971 when he finally retired. Under Eldon the store became known for lawnmower repair and sales, as there were lots of mowers around and outside; one can still see grooves in the floor where mowers sat. After Eldon's death in 1997, the store was taken over by his daughter, Karen Lescisin. It is now (2007) a coffee and tea shop.
Term Source: Langley's Heritage

Argus v4.3.6.40 - Langley Centennial Museum