Viewing Object

Teacher at Willoughby School in 1932.
Term Source: Willoughby School Photos.

James Howard Schatz was born in Delia, Alberta, February 29th, 1924. He came to Langley with his family in 1931, attending both Milner Elementary and Langley High School before going to UBC. Jim joined the Langley Advance staff as a reporter in 1947, but also wrote for The Province from 1947 - 1953. At the same time, Jim farmed in the Willoughby area, and on March 22, 1951, he married local school teacher Norma Helen Walters. The couple had four sons and two daughters - two sons and both daughters died of cystic fibrosis, leaving two sons, Allen (Joe) and Ian. Jim and George Johnson became co-owners of the Advance in 1958 when E. J. Cox retired and Fred Cox sold his interest in the paper while retaining his commercial printing part of the firm. Perhaps thanks to Jim, the Advance was one of the first papers outside of a metropolitan area to get a modern multilith press in 1947, soon followed by a Klischograph engraver for photos. While remaining a consistent presence in the newspaper world, Jim raised registered Shorthorn cattle, was the president and principal owner of Langley Travel Services Ltd. after 1972, and was a director of a group of businessmen that built Highland Village Mall. Jim Schatz died of a stroke February 4, 1990, at the age of 65.
Term Source: HPC Record (HPC-365/1134), Willoughby School Photos.

Vera Schatz was born in Delia, Alberta in 1926 to parents Simon and Alice Schatz. She had a brother, Jim Schatz. The family moved to the Willoughby are of Langley in 1931, and moved into a house on Lee Road (on the corner at James Road) built by Simon Schatz in 1932. Vera attended Willoughby Elementary School from 1932-37, Milner Elementary School from 1937-39, West Langley Elementary School from 1939-40, and Langley High School from 1940-1944. She was a member of the Willoughby United Church, Sunday School and Choir, the Murrayville United Church-Mission Band, and the Milner United Church Young People group. She was involved in the Langley 4H Jersey Calf Club, and at LHS was involved in the Hi Y club and in the John Leonard operettas performed. She married Andrew Stewart in 1955, and the couple had three children: a son, Glen, and daughters Laurie and Robyn.

Anyone with information on who this individual might be is welcomed to contact the Langley Centennial Museum at 604.532.3536. Thank you.

Earliest mention of Willoughby School goes back to 1921 when classes were held in the original Willoughby Community Hall at the corner of 83rd Ave. and 208 St. known in those days as the corner of Scholes Rd. and Alexander Rd. For three years students in every grade were accommodated in the hall but in 1924 that arrangement was closed and the children in this area for the next 7 years went to either Milner or West Langley schools.