Langley Centennial Museum
Hello, Guest
Add As Favorite
Language
Viewing Object
Print
Saved List Options
My Saved List
Select
/
Clear
Create a New Saved List
Add
Object Description
Share
Object ID
5845
Title
View of Fort Langley from Ziegler "Castle."
Date
[195-?].
Description
The Ziegler "Castle" as seen from the road.
People/Subject
Fort Langley (village)
Ziegler "Castle"
This house, located at 22926 Rawlison Cres., Fort Langley, was built for lumber magnate John Hendry as a recreational property several years before World War I. Hendry had a vast lumber empire, including B.C. Mills, Timber, and Trading Co.. Toody Wilson (b. 1908) remembers that when she was young, the Ziegler "castle" was owned by a seamstress who had a son younger than her. This might have been Hendry's widow, as Fritz Ziegler bought the house from her in 1939 and built it up into the castle it became. Ziegler worked over the years to make this home a castle, naming it Schloss Klipphaus after a castle built by one of his forefathers in 1528 near Dresden, Germany. The house also became known as Monk's Hall, due to the number of concrete monks that adorned the front entrance. During WWII Fritz Ziegler was interred at three different camps for German and Italian "aliens" and prisoners of war, but in 1943 he was released and placed under house arrest in his Fort Langley home. Fritz was appointed Consul of Monaco in 1965, and Consul General in 1978, and Prince Ranier, Princess Grace, and children Caroline, Albert and Stephanie may have visited the house. Fritz and his wife, Harriet, began opening their house to tours by the public in 1960 and giving the proceeds to charities and St. George's Anglican Church, of which they were members. Fritz died on August 21, 1996, at the age of 94. His widowed second wife, Nancy, stayed in the house until her death in approximately 2006. Most of the house was demolished in approximately 2006, but the chapel was saved and was attached to the new house on the site.
Print
Saved List Options
My Saved List
Select
/
Clear
Create a New Saved List
Add
Argus v4.4.0.36 - Langley Centennial Museum