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John Walter Berry was born on December 18, 1869 in Bruce County, Ontario to parents William Berry and Susanah (Sterne) Berry. In 1890 he married Lydia Bowman of Mannheim, Ontario. They had 7 children: Edith (b. 1891), Edward (b. 1894), William (b. 1900), Harold (b. 1901), Anne (b. 1903), John (b. 1905), and Thomas (b. 1910). John moved his family to Langley in 1897 to help long-time friend David Moss Coulter open a general store. The pair opened two stores, one in Murrayville (managed by Berry) and one in Fort Langley (managed by Coulter). In 1904 John sold his store to Hugh A. MacDonald. During the time he owned the store, John purchased a 135 acre price of land and went on to build a successful dairy farm (Belmont). In 1910 he helped form the Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association. John was a prominent Langley citizen. He served as Municipal Clerk in the Township of Langley from 1899-1909, as Chairman of the Langley School Board from 1912-1936, and as MLA for the Delta Riding (which consisted of Delta, Surrey and Langley) from 1928-1932. He also served as an auctioneer and valuator. John died at his home on Old Yale Road after a lengthy illness on September 5, 1943 at the age of 74. He is buried in the Murrayville Cemetery.

See Also: Coulter & Berry Store
Term Source: The Langley Story, pg. 249 (Waite) ; From Prairie to City, p. 85 (Sommer).

Jean Bodaly was part of the May Day-May Queen celebrations in 1936.

Jean Duff was involved in the 1936 May Day- May Queen events. She later married and became Jean Matt.

Christine Hassel was part of the May Day-May Queen celebrations in about 1936.

Alexander Campbell Hope was born on August 4, 1894, to Charles Edward and Lily Dawson Hope, nee Mavis. He served with the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. He married Mabel Isabel Andrews on April 29, 1922. He served on the Langley school board from 1930-1932 and was a municipal councilor for Ward Four for another three years. He became reeve of Langley in 1936 and served for 11 years. Hope went on to serve in the Coalition government from 1945-1952 and was also a member of the agricultural advisory board. He was one of the founding fathers of the B.C. Artificial Insemination Center for dairy cattle, and was involved with several agricultural organizations, including the B.C. Certified Seed Potato Growers' Association, where he served as chairman for a number of years, the B.C. Federation of Agriculture, the Salmon River Dyking Commission, and the Langley Farmer's Institute.

In addition to his commitments to farming and agriculture, Hope was also president of the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society, served two terms as president of Fort Langley Restoration Society, was a member of The Native Sons of B.C., and was chairman of the Langley Centennial Celebration Committee from 1964-1967. He was actively involved at St. George's Parish Church, serving in all offices, and supported the Conservative Party, participating in party affairs within Langley and the lower mainland. At the same time he managed and operated a large farm raising dairy cattle and sheep, with the help of his family. He also grew acres of vegetables and hay and owned a large holly orchard. Alexander Campbell Hope died on August 25, 1978.
Term Source: HPC Record (HOPEC-3/284); HPC Record (HPC-365/1134)

Fort Langley established its May Day in 1922, and it continues to be an annual tradition (2003). In Langley, May Day refers to the 24 of May, the date of the birth of Queen Victoria. The first May Day was held in Fort Langley, then the event moved to Langley Prairie from 1923-1957. In 1958 the Langley Kinsmen gave up the event, and it returned to Fort Langley where it was organized by the Community Improvement Society and the Fort Langley Lions club, and finally a community committee. May Day celebrations include the crowning of the May Queen and the May pole dancing.

Superbase See Also: May Day Celebrations - Langley Prairie
Term Source: Warren Sommer's "From Prairie to City", p. 154.

Term Source: HPC Record (HPC-230/1026)

Laverene Sailes was a Fort Langley girl. She was chosen by the Langley Amateur Athletic Association as it's 16th May Queen in 1938.

Sister of Laverne Sailes. May Queen in 1937.