Viewing Object

Object Description

Object Name

Oral History

Recording

Object ID

SR-147

Title

Adam Stoddard "Addie" Towle and Roberta Elizabeth Towle, nee Smith, oral history interview conducted by Margaret Anderson on 20 Jul. 1989.

Extent

1 audio cassette.

Date

20 Jul. 1989.

Description

SR-147: Tracks 1 - 4 discuss the Towle family, including Addie Towle and George Towle. John Jardine is mentioned. The Towle hotel is also mentioned.
Track 5 describes the Towle family's Christmas celebrations. Addie's wife Roberta Smith is mentioned.
Track 6 discusses school, including Fort Langley School and Milner School. The Towles' relationship is discussed.
Track 7 describes Towle's work on farms and road work. Magnus Smith is mentioned.
Track 8 continues to discuss the Towles' wedding.
Tracks 9 - 12 discuss Towle's work in trucking for the CNR and transporting milk. The Depression is mentioned. The Patullo Bridge is described. Towle's company, Langley Freight Lines, is discussed.
Track 13 discusses World War II.
Track 14 describes the floods of the Fraser River, including the flood of 1948.
Track 15 describes the Smith family farm.
Track 16 discusses Tom Gifford and a fishing accident.
Track 17 discusses Dr. Marr and his medical practice.
Track 18 discusses teachers at Milner School, including Constance Wright.
Track 19 briefly mentions women's social events such as afternoon tea.

People/Subject

Canadian National Railway

By 1919, the Intercolonial, Canadian Northern, National Transcontinental and Grand Trunk Pacific had become part of a government railway system known as the Canadian National Railways (CN).

Marr, Benjamin Butler, Dr., 1882-1939

Benjamin Butler Marr was born on August 10, 1882. He graduated from Tuft's Medical School in Boston in 1907 and came to Vancouver. He set up his medical practice in 1910 and became Langley's first doctor. In 1913, he married Isabel Drew McIntosh (1895-1936). In 1914, Marr enlisted in the cavalry; he was transferred to the medical corps in Britain in 1916. Benjamin died on October 14, 1939.

Dr. Marr was also the Chairman of the Fort Preservation Committee during the late 1920s when the Fort was undergoing revitalization.

Milner Elementary School

The original Milner School was built in the early 1900's as a one room structure located on Johnston Townline Road (216th Street) just south of Medd Road (64th Avenue). The Milner Elementary School as it stands in 2003 at 6656 Glover Road was constructed in 1914 by Mr. Owen Hughes. Changes through the years have included the addition of a principal's office, a gymnasium, a medical room, and a portable classroom.
The school closed in the 1980s due to declining pupils and was later turned into the Milner Education Centre.

Smith, Magnus

Magnus Smith was born in April 19, 1876. He married Bessie (Elizabeth) Cameron on June 20, 1900. The couple lived in Milner, along Crush Crescent in the "Oakes House." Their children included Lloyd Magnus, Gladys, Velma and Georgina. He passed away on December 23, 1931.

Towle, Adam Stoddard

Adam Stoddard Towle was born on 5 February, 1905 to Stanley Clayton Towle and Agnes Stoddard. He married Ruberta Elizabeth Smith (April 26, 1905-February 14, 2001) in 1930. Adam died on 1 October, 1998.

Adam was interview by the museum in 1976. The interview can be found at SR-024.

Towle, George Albion

George Albion Towle was born in 1856. He married Clara Matilda Swanson on January 30, 1901. He was the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel in Fort Langley, BC. He also served as the mail contractor and as an agent for the BC Telephone Company. In 1910, George retired when Langley Municipality went "dry" and Mr. Towle lost his liquor licence. They built the Towle house at 8813 Glover Road in 1912 as a retirement house. George Albion Towle died on January 27, 192
Term Source: BC Vital Statistics, Clippings file.

World War, 1939-1945

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