Untold Stories of Fort Langley

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Untold Stories of Fort Langley

Stories, Books, Insights in Fort Langley History and across BC.
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08/07/2024

I always love thinking about the “what if?” scenarios of history.
Here is another big what if courtesy of Derek Hayes book British Columbia: A New Historical Atlas. This is one of the proposed Canada/US boundaries during the tense negotiations trying to determine who will own what land. This border would have seen Victoria, among other cities, go to the Americans.

This timeline would have radically changed today’s BC economy, among other aspects of our province.

08/02/2024

I noticed a few more people have become followers to the page. So thought I would kick start things with a historical mystery. I love historical mysteries and this one comes courtesy of Derek Hayes Incredible book British Columbia: A New Historical Atlas. (I will throw a few more from his book in the near future).

A Map from 1814 depicting BC created through Simon Fraser’s explorations shows near the Lower Fraser Valley a note stating “To this place the White Men came from the Seas”. Historians have no clue what this could be referring to as there is no record of any entry this far inland before the 1814 date. Could be unknown Spanish explorers or other unidentified groups lost to history.

05/03/2024

It's been awhile since my last update but I see I have gained a few new followers. So, my last book is available in local libraries. I have been busy reading other non historical books but I did get my hands on a great BC book and I will share some interesting highlights out of that book over the coming days.

03/06/2024

I have always been a fan of the mysterious and what if? Part of history. The second book I wrote leans fully into this. I always loved the story around Whattlekainum, a Kwantlen Chief, who is heavily featured in both books I wrote. Whattlekainum fits the description of a stereotypical action hero. Raised on a spartan like upbringing, fighting in numerous battles, feared by many. Yet, according to the history books, he retreated only once, out of fear, when he faced the Lizard of Lulu Island.

Did the lizard exist? What if? Scientists have done research of the ground on Lulu Island and around the time of Whattlekainum there was a massive fire event across the entire island. One theory proposes that the fires were deliberately set to destroy something.

Picture is of the Northern Alligator Lizard found in 1980 on the island

03/03/2024

We are nearing the 3-year anniversary of the devastating wildfire that destroyed much of Lytton. However, December 21st, 2023, officially marked the start of the first house to be rebuilt in Lytton! That is just unbelievable!

Barkerville experienced a similar event in Sept 1868, where a fire in a matter of hours destroyed virtually everything in the bustling town, which included 120 homes. 1 week later, with the ground still smoldering, 30 homes were already in the rebuilding process.

How could this be? That in modern times it takes almost three years for just 1 home rebuild to get going?

The Barkerville story is from the book The Trail of 1858 by Mark Forsythe and Greg Dickson. Pictures are Lytton from Global News and Barkerville from100 Mile Free Press

03/01/2024

Still pushing forward with the 2nd book. I am thankful the library has agreed to take on the second book and it's already picking up readers even before it's available. I appreciate the support!

02/25/2024

It is Sunday so thought this would be fitting for today.

Charles Amos (Wahuxgamalayou) was a Haisla man who, upon visiting Victoria in 1874, became a devout Christian and went back to Kitimat. Upon returning to his village, a handful of people converted.

It quickly challenged the traditional way of life.

One Christian prayer meeting described in Gordon Robinson’s book was disrupted by another Haisla man who, upon doing a traditional dance, took glowing hot embers out of a fire and threw it at the men to disrupt the meeting.

Charles went on to build the first church in Kitimat and is now buried in a local graveyard.

No matter your beliefs, the courage it took to do what Charles did has to be recognized.

This will be the last story out of Gordon Robinson’s book, Haisla Legends. I encourage people to try to find it. I did not share the stories about Lakelse Lake, a giant ship sinking octopus, and the water grizzly bear, to name a few.

Photo from Charles Hamori-Torok article title Haisla. (not Charles gravestone)

02/22/2024

I don’t know if people quite grasp the amount of money that some average everyday men were making in the gold rush in BC. In areas around the Cariboo region, many men were making, on average, about $1640 a day in today's numbers. On extraordinary days, they would pull in what would equal today $74 000 a day!

Photo from BC ARCHIVES C-01201

02/16/2024

Valentine’s day has just ended recently and love is still fresh in the air for many.

Although sadly some men spent it alone this Valentine’s Day. Trust me when I say that no matter how bad it might have seemed; it could have been worse. In 1868, there were just two unmarried women in all of New Westminster and here is their picture.

Picture from the BC Archives H-02913

02/11/2024

If there was anyone else out there, like me, who wondered what the town of Hope was named after? Look no further! The town received its name from the "hope" of establishing an all-British route from Fort Kamloops to Fort Langley.

02/09/2024

Monkeys in Kitimat?

The stories that surround the area known as Monkey Beach are legendary. However, this is probably the most realistic reason this place near Kitimat came to be called Monkey Beach.

Back in the early beginnings of Kitimat, a foreign boat carrying a cargo of monkeys lost its load. The monkeys somehow found their way to the area known now as Monkey Beach and quickly exploded in population. The nearby Haisla had to make the fateful decision of wiping out all but one, which was saved by a curious New York Museum.

Once again from the Gordon Robinson's book Haisla Legends. I might do one more story from it, but save the rest for curious readers.

02/07/2024

If you ever find yourself wandering around the Kitimat area, don’t be afraid to look out for this mystery. There is a story that Weegit’s Spring, a never-failing stream, may still be found at the north end of Kitimat Village. No matter how cold and frozen surrounding water bodies get or how hot and drought like conditions exist. The stream continues to flow faithfully, serving clear, clean water.

Found in Gordon Robinson's book Haisla Legends.

02/04/2024

Sorry I can’t post any news links because of the Facebook ban on Canadian news. However, there recently was closure given to the Doukhobor people and their treatment by the BC government in the 50’s. The Doukhobor’s were issued an official apology and $10 million compensation. An earlier post I made goes into a bit more detail on the story.

02/03/2024

Wow! Thanks Mission FVRL for putting me on the B.C Fiction recommendation list. Top 15 at that too. Surreal!

01/24/2024

Highly controversial judge Matthew Begbie, who became known as the “hanging judge,” was perhaps a man guilty of his own creation. It is arguable he was, in fact, on the same level as any other judge at the time, if not more lenient than any other judge. He sentenced less than 30 men in his time as judge. His statue was removed recently.

Photo from New West Records.com

01/20/2024

In my previous posts I have talked about Yale BC being considered the “S***m and Gomorrah of BC.”

Upon further reading, I found that some would say that Lillooet, BC, was Gomorrah to Yale’s (BC) S***m at the time of the gold rush. Further describing Lillooet as a “lusty, brawling place.”

Found in the excellent book from Mark Forsythe and Greg Dickson The Trail of 1858
Photo Eric Brighton Edit / Restoration

01/18/2024

Some times it’s the simplest of gestures. This positive review really helped push me to continue posting and kick start the drive. I don’t know who this is but if melbaround55 sees this post, thank you for the kind words.

01/16/2024

It has been awhile.

Honestly, the disaster launch of my last book and its minimal amount of sales knocked me down. However, I recently received encouragement from a 5-star review for my first book and I am still seeing activity on this page. So, I thought I would give it another go and rekindle the flame again. Perhaps there is still interest out there after all. I will give some more updates over the coming days. Thanks again for the support.

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Langley, BC

Website

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrmbAA5N1P9ouLcSWw1kHiA, https://www.amazon.ca/Untold-Stories-Fort-Langley/dp/177803110

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