Viewing Object

In 1909 the first high school class was organized and held in rented quarters in Murrayville. From 1911-18, classes were held in Belmont Superior School (later Murrayville Elementary), but the school became overcrowded with elementary and high school students. The school board approached the Municipal Council, but their request for a new schol was turned down twice. The board resigned, but the next board was more successful and local contractor Owen Hughes was hired on a low bid of $11,900. The School Board temporarily found room for the overflow pupils from Murrayville in the downstairs portion of Milner Hall and by renting the Sharon Presbyterian Church Hall. In 1922, Langley High School moved from Murrayville to Milner School, where it remained until Langley High School was built on Yale Road in 1924. Langley High School opened in 1924 with two classrooms and one science room. It taught grades 9 to 12. Additional rooms were built in 1934. In roughly 1947 the new school on the current property (2005) was built, and it included Grades 11 and 12. In 1948, the old building on Fraser Highway became Langley Central Elementary, and the high school students moved to the current location (2006) at Langley SECONDARY School. In 1985 the school went from Grades 8-12.
See Also: Langley Secondary School
Term Source: History of Langley Schools" by Harry McTaggart, Maureen Pepin, and Norman Sherrit.

The Langley Theatre was built by Arthur Timms between 1915 and 1917. It was built in what was known as the "Theatre Block," the first major commercial building in the area. There was also a general store in the building and a "refreshment room." E. J. Timms ran the Theatre, and during silent movies one of the Timms women would play the piano. In 1924 the piano was replaced by a proper theatre organ. Occasionally the bench seating was moved to the side and dances were held. After Timms left Langley in 1930, the Theatre was used as a hardware store for many years. The Theatre was reopened in 1937 by Joe Gibson, and was run by his wife, Olive, until 1945. At this time Peter Barnes and his sister Myrtle bought it, and four years later they had plans to tear down the Calow Block to the east to extend the Theatre. This never happened, and the Barnes left the commuity in the mid-1950s. The next manager was Mrs. R. Bates. The Theatre was used until it was demolished in 1958.
See Also: theatres
Term Source: Warren Sommer's "From Prairie to City: The History of the City of Langley"

Son of William Leonard. Husband of Isobella Leonard. John (Jack) Leonard was born in London, England on March 1, 1881 and arrived in Vancouver in 1899. In his early adult life, he worked in logging camps in the B.C. interior and as a contractor in Salmon Arm, B.C. After service in Europe during World War I, he returned to Canada and obtained a teacher's certificate. He began teaching in Cloverdale and later taught in Langley. He was a composer of operettas and conducted musical performances of his compositions at John Oliver High School (Vancouver) and Langley High School.

Term Source: Sears List of Subject Headings (16th. Ed.)