Viewing Object

Object Description

Object ID

2019.023.006

Title

Black horse and carriage at a parade in Langley.

Date

[ca. 1965].

Description

Colour slide of a black horse pulling a black carriage at a parade in Langley City. There are parked cars and people on the side of the street in the background, as well as businesses with signs that read: "Wright Block", "Sweet 16/ fashion stores" and "FURNITURE/ [APP]LIANCES." In the foreground on the right is the back of a child's head. The carriage has three people seated inside it, and pink and white flowers stuck to its side. There is a man in a top hat, long black coat, grey pants, and white dress shirt holding the reins of the horse, walking beside the horse's head on the right. The man in the top hat is likely Len Rowlatt, and that would likely be his "Surrey with the fringe on top."

People/Subject

Langley City

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

parades

See Also: fairs

Rowlatt, Leonard (Len)

Leonard Rowlatt, known as Len, was born to Arthur and Mary (née Hall) Rowlatt on 22 May 1887 in Spaldwick, Huntingdon, England. The Rowlatt family lived in Easton. Len came to Canada with his older brother Joe around 1907. In 1905, W. F. Taylor bought Alexander Joseph Annand's Campbell Valley property and later leased the north 80 acres and house to Len Rowlatt, who subsequently purchased the farm in 1914 and lived there until his death. In 1914 the long distance engagement between Len Rowlatt and his fiancée Effie, who was living in England, ended. Len Rowlatt married Isabella Maddison, then living in Hall's Prairie, on 29 Oct. 1917 in New Westminster, BC. After marrying, the couple lived on Campbell River Road (later 8th Avenue) in Langley, BC. Len farmed in Langley, predominantly as a milk producer. In addition to farming, Len earned a reputation as a water diviner (well witcher). Len also participated in the Cloverdale Rodeo and other events, such as parades, in the Langley area during which he would bring his surrey (four-wheel two-seated horse-drawn carriage) out for public use. People throughout British Columbia asked Len for assistance in finding water. In 1968 Len began to sell his land, selling a large portion to the Greater Vancouver Regional District, with an agreement that he could continue to live on the property. Len Rowlatt died in Murrayville, BC on 5 Apr. 1973.

Wright's Limited

Langley Prairie/City business.

Argus v4.4.0.36 - Langley Centennial Museum