Helen Poppy, nee McClaren, oral history interview conducted by Loryl MacDonald on 6 Sep. 1991.

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Object Description

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Object Name

Oral History

,

Recording

Object ID

SR-160

Title

Helen Poppy, nee McClaren, oral history interview conducted by Loryl MacDonald on 6 Sep. 1991.

Extent

1 audio cassette.

Date

6 Sep. 1991.

Description

SR-160: Tracks 1 - 3 discuss the McClaren family and farm. Poppy's parents Elizabeth and Robert McClaren are mentioned. Farm chores and children's leisure activities are described.
Track 4 discusses Murrayville Public School and teachers, including Mrs. Bilton. Langley High School is also discussed.
Tracks 5 - 6 discuss the Depression and World War II. Poppy's work in administration for women in the military is discussed. Social activities for enlisted women are mentioned. Rationing is mentioned. Japanese internment is discussed.
Track 7 discusses Sharon Church. The United Church and Presbyterian Church are mentioned. The Young People's group is also mentioned.
Track 8 discusses businesses in Murrayville and Langley, including P. Y. Porter's store, Cummings' butchershop, Arthur Anderson's blacksmith shop and garage, and Plewes' drugstore, where Poppy worked.
Track 9 discusses technological changes, including the introduction of electricity and telephones.
Track 10 mentions local politics and elections.
Track 11 describes changes in Murrayville over time.
Tracks 12 - 13 discuss the Poppy family.

People/Subject

Japanese Internment

Langley High School

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.

Poppy, Helen (nee McLaren)

Helen McLaren was born in January, 1917, in Langley, to Elizabeth and Robert McLaren. She served as a cook and in administration for women's departments in the military during World War II. She married David William Poppy Jr. and they had four children: Roberta, Judy, Bill, and Jimmy.

Sharon Presbyterian (United) Church

During the Presbyterian ministry of Reverend Alexander Tait in the late 1880s, this site was donated by Henry Mutrie for the construction of a new church. The lumber was obtained from a mill located two miles to the east. The name for the church is taken from the Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 1, "I am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys". In 1925, with the unification of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches, this became the home of the United Church; those that remained Presbyterian constructed a new church on 216A Street. A new entry has been added to the simple form of the church, and a new hall built at the rear. It is, however, a well-maintained local area landmark and provides the community with important link to it first settlement.

World War, 1939-1945

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