Viewing Object

Object Description

Object ID

SR-225

Title

Aksel Ebbeson's oral history interview conducted by Warren Sommer on 7 Apr. 2006.

Extent

3 audio cassettes; 6 cds.

Date

7 Apr. 2006.

Description

SR-225.1 is a recording of an interview with Aksel Ebbeson, conducted by Warren Sommer.

Track 1 - Introduction, date and birth of Aksel's birth, mention of siblings. Discussion of parents move from Norway to the States and eventually Matsqui, Canada in 1915. Discussion of Matsqui population.
Track 2 - Description of Ebbeson's family dairy farm and cattle. Mention of tuberculosis among the cattle. Mention of Aksel's job to take the bull to service cows.
Track 3 - Discussion of duties on the Ebbeson farm.
Track 4 - Discussion of ploughing, and general knowledge of agricultural practices among Langley farmers. Mention of Fraser Valley Milk Producers and milking cows.
Track 5 - Discussion of Aksel's education at Matsqui and later teacher's training in Vancouver.
Track 6 - Discussion of Aksel's teaching career at Nicoman Island and Dewdney.
Track 7-8 - Discussion of Aksel joining the RCAF in 1941 as a mechanic. Describes his experiences as an airforce mechanic in Canada.
Track 9 - Discussion of Aksel's early discharge from the RCAF in 1945. Mentions his marriage in March 28 1941.
Track 10 - Discusses Aksel's return to teaching as vice-principal of Upper Sumas School and decision to leave the teaching profession.
Track 11 - Discusses Aksel's career at the Langley 5 Cents to a Dollar Store from September of 1947. Discusses Aksel's sister Agnes and her husband Henry Herlihy, their life and purchase of the Langley 5 Cents to a Dollar Store . Descripes Aksel's time at the store, the goods for sale and employees.

SR-225.2 is a recording of an interview with Aksel Ebbeson, conducted by Warren Sommer.

Track 1 - Continues with discussion of employees at the Langley 5 Cents to a Dollar Store. Mentions the death of Henry Herlihy and Agnes. Discusses the other property the Herlihy's owned.
Track 2 - Discussion of crime at the property on Douglas Crescent. Discussion of limited criminal occurances in Langley.
Track 3 - Discussion of Agnes' role in the store and her working relationship with Aksel.
Track 4 - Discussion of the Interurban and it's role in Langley.
Track 5 - Mention of Bob Kerr and the beginning of the Langley Fire Department. Discussion of the early days of the Fire Department, the Township, and methods of alerting volunteers.
Track 6 - Discussion of Langley Township council and the City. Discusses Aksel's experience at council.
Track 7 - Discussion of Asian business in Langley during the early 1950's. Mentions George Chan.
Track 8 - Discusses first garbage pick up in Langley.
Track 9 - Discusses Langley's sanitary sewage.
Track 10 - Discusses fresh water supply for Langley. Mentions use of water in fire supression and water to businesses, mentions Potter's Distillery.
Track 11 - Discussion of the boundaries between Langley City and Langley Township. Mention of Tommy Harris.
Track 12 - Discussion of United Church, attending church with his wife and Steelhead fishing.
Track 13 - Discussion of various service clubs in Langley.
Track 14 - Discussion of social cast's and moral tone of Langley regarding alcohol and drugs. Mention of Captain Williams.
Track 15 - Discussion of billiard halls in Langley and their association with barber shops. Discussion of Aksel's experiences in the billiard hall.

SR-225.3 is a recording of an interview with Aksel Ebbeson, conducted by Warren Sommer.

Track 1 - Discussion of Junior Board of Trade and Aksel's involvement in it.
Track 2 - Discussion of politics, ratio of conservatives to liberals among the business community in Langley.
Track 3 - Discussion of fundraising by the Junior Board of Trade. Mention of a stag party hosted by the Junior Board and the consequences.
Track 4 - Discussion of the 1950's automobiles and traffic in Langley.
Track 5-6 - Discussion of shopping malls in Langley and Guilford, general shopping habits of people in Langley. Mention of several Langley shops [Duckworth, Rose Wilson's china shop, Anne Payne's dress shop, McDougall's Hardware, Overweigh Tea, Crawford's Cash store, Oswald Thomas' dry goods, Pierce's Hardware (sp?)].
Track 7 - Discussion of Langley's radio station, CJJC, mention of Joe Chesney and our member of Parliament, Bob Wenman (sp?).
Track 8 - Discussion of auctioneers in Langley, mention of Joe Gibson and his auction sale on Thursdays.
Track 9 - Discussion of store hours in Langley at the Five Cents to a Dollar Store and change in store hours to seven days a week. Discussion of Saturday night shopping as a big event.
Track 10 - Discussion of Aksel's joining the Legion and limited division within the Legion between those who served in action and those who served in Canada.
Track 11 - Discussion of Gordon Tout and the Dawn Patrol in Langley.
Track 12 - Discussion of Aksel's view of change in Langley City from his arrival to his retirement.
Track 13 - Discussion of Aksel's view of Langley City and the need to remain seperate from the Township.

People/Subject

cattle/cows

Ebbeson, Aksel

Aksel Ebbeson was born Dec. 1, 1916 at Matsqui to Ben and Anna Ebbeson (who were Norwegian). Aksel's siblings included sisters Agnes (Herlihy) and Lillian and brothers Oswald and Aner [Sp?].He attended school in Matsqui and then the teacher training program at Vancouver Normal School 1935 - 36. He taught at Dewdney and Nicomen Island Schools before becoming principal at Deroche School. During WWII he served as an engine mechanic in the RCAF. He was also an early volunteer fire fighter in Langley City. In 1947, Ebbeson moved to Langley Prairie to run the 5¢ - $1 store until his retirement in 1982. During this time he played a leading role in the Junior Board of Trade and the Lions Club.

fire department

Langley's first fire department began as local neighbourhood "volunteer" fire departments in the 1930s. Previously, Langley residents were responsible for fending off fires close to their own properties. By the 1930s, however, "volunteer" fire departments became a necessity due to the growing population of Langley. Each neighbourhood's "volunteer" fire department enlisted the help of local men to answer emergency calls. Various neighbourhood departments included North West Langley, Murrayville, Brookswood, Fort Langley and Aldergrove. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Langley's volunteer fire departments partnered with local ratepayers to build new fire halls throughout the Township and purchase fire trucks with attached water hoses. To this day, the Township of Langley employees both paid full-time and volunteer forces.

Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association

Harris, Tommy

Tommy Harris was the Rector at St. Andrew's Anglican Church from 1940 - 1963.

Herlihy, Agnes

Agnes Ebbeson was born December 25, 1910 in Sumas, Washington. Agnes moved to Langley in 1939 and purchased the McBurney Variety Store. It was turned into the Langley Five Cents to a Dollar Store. She married Harry Herlihy in 1941. Their children were: Henry Herlihy, John Herlihy and Kathy Herlihy. She operated numerous businesses in Langley and belonged to the Langley Business and Professional Womens' Club and the Chamber of Commerce. She passed away on May 12, 1997.

Langley (Township) Municipal Council.

Langley City

The City of Langley, B.C., covering the Langley Prairie region, was incorporated in 1955.

Royal Agricultural and Industrial Society

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was the air force of Canada from 1924 until 1968 when the three branches of the Canadian military were merged into the Canadian Armed Forces. The modern Canadian air force has been known as Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) since 1975, but still refers to itself as the "Air Force" and maintains many of the traditions of the RCAF.

Argus v4.4.0.36 - Langley Centennial Museum