The general store in Murrayville.

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Object Description

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Object ID

2013.022.003

Title

The general store in Murrayville.

Date

1909.

Description

1 photograph, copied b&w; of the general store in Murrayville; people are standing along the verandah, and there are two carts with horses facing each other in front of the store; the cart and horse on the left is small and appears to have two children sitting on it, and the one on the right is larger and appears to have a woman in it; the photo is taken from a similar angle as 2014.044.010, but it closer to the store; it appears to be near the same period of time as the "PEABODYS OVERALLS" sign is still hanging from the edge of the roof, but is further to the right in this image; the trim around the windows is darker in this photo too, and the H. A. MacDonald General Store sign painted on the building is not there.

People/Subject

Davidson and Riddell Store

Hugh Davidson and Robert Riddell opened the first general store at Murrays' Corners in 1888.

Five Corners - Murrayville

Five Corners intersection is where five roads all meet at one point in Murrayville. The streets are Old Yale Road, 48 Avenue; and 216 street. Paul Murray chose to homestead here in 1874 and after the Yale road was completed, Murray's son, Billy, built a hotel here to cater to travelers passing through on their way to the Interior. This was the first permanent building in the settlement that came to be known as Murray's Corners. In 1889 the brush was cleared for the construction of the first church in the area, Sharon Presbyterian Church. Further developments occurred rapidly, and Murray's Corners became one of the most important settlements in Langley. The settlement grew up as a service area for travelers and for the local agricultural community. Now called Murrayville, it retains a number of early buildings from all eras of it development, from the earliest church and hotel (1880's), to later farmhouses and barns (1900's to 1910's) , a school; and early suburban residence (1910's), and a later store, church and community hall (1920's to 1930's). This concentration of heritage buildings is a significant community resource, and remains as an important reminder of an earlier way of life in Langley. Today this heritage precinct is still centred on the Five Corners intersection, which remains the heart of the Murrayville community.

Murray's Corner (Murrayville before 1911)

Paul Murray was born in Ireland in 1811 and immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of eighteen. the Murray family settled in Oxford County, Ontario, and ten years later Paul married Lucy Bruce. They bought land in Zorra and had seven children together. In May 1874, after his children were grown, Paul left Ontario and relocated in B.C., accompanied by three of his sons. Their first home in Langley was a roughly built shelter they made for themselves from a gigantic fir tree, and after his wife and two of his daughters arrived, they all lived there together. After these humble beginnings, Murray opened a hotel on Old Yale Road to service travelers making their way into the interior, building up a reputation as one of the finest carpenters in the area. The corner where the hotel was eventually came to be known as Murray's Corners, as the family had 160 acres of land on each corner. Murray's Corners eventually came to be known as Murrayville, and all of Paul's sons worked on Old Yale Road, building more hotels and other businesses to increase commerce. Paul was an ordained church elder, during a time when there were no official churches and services were held in a small schoolhouse on the corner of Glover Road and Old Yale Road. Holding the title of founder of Murrayville, Paul Murray died in 1903. Murray's Corners did not officially become Murrayville until 1911, when the local post office changed its name to Murrayville Post Office.

Murrayville (B.C.)

Paul Murray was born in Ireland in 1811 and immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of eighteen. the Murray family settled in Oxford County, Ontario, and ten years later Paul married Lucy Bruce. They bought land in Zorra and had seven children together. In May 1874, after his children were grown, Paul left Ontario and relocated in B.C., accompanied by three of his sons. Their first home in Langley was a roughly built shelter they made for themselves from a gigantic fir tree, and after his wife and two of hisdaughters arrived, they all lived there together. After these humble beginnings, Murray opened a hotel on Old Yale Road to service travelers making their way into the interior, building up a reputation as one of the finest carpenters in the area. The corner where the hotel was eventually came to be known as Murray's Corners, as the family had 160 acres of land on each corner. Murray's Corners eventually came to be known as Murrayville, and all of Paul's sons worked on Old Yale Road, building more hotels and other businesses to increase commerce. Paul was an ordained church elder, dring a time when there were no official churches and services were held in a small schoolhouse on the corner of Glover Road and Old Yale Road. Holding the title of founder of Murrayville, Paul Murray died in 1903. Murray's Corners did not officially become Murrayville until 1911, when the local post office changed its name to Murrayville Post Office.

Murrayville General Store