Albion, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Albion, British Columbia is a neighbourhood in Maple Ridge
, British Columbia
and is one of several small towns incorporated within the municipality at its creation. It is the oldest non-indigenous community of the district's settlements, and is only slightly younger than Fort Langley, adjacent across the Fraser River
, and Kanaka Creek
, which is just to the west and lies along the creek of the same name. Its official definition is the area bounded by the Fraser River
, Kanaka Way, and 240th Street, but in its historic sense it means the community centred on and flanking 240th Street and adjoining areas along the Fraser River waterfront and around the Maple Ridge Fairgrounds, while along Kanaka Way and also on the near bank of Kanaka Creek, the creek, is historically the community of Kanaka Creek. Burgeoning newer home construction east of 240th Street near the Lougheed Highway is also often referred to as part of Albion.
Trains did not stop in Albion until train personnel set a precedent by permitting one Albion resident "whose weight was not to be lightly estimated" to alight there and in this way save a long walk through a stormy evening from the stop in Haney. The next week several men demanded the same privilege, and the Albion stop on the railway was created.
Sawmills, canneries and fishboats featured in Albion's economy, and River Road, which runs between the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and the river, has been a mixed industrial area for all of Albion's existence since the coming of the railway in the 1880s. Farmland on the north side of the highway and semi-wild green fields and trees that typified the old rural community are succumbing to suburban sprawl. Langley Indian Reserve No. 5, which includes a native cemetery, is just east of Albion on the north side of the Fraser. It is one of several reserves under the jurisdiction of the Kwantlen First Nation
, whose main reserve is across the Fraser from Albion on McMillan Island
in Fort Langley
.
Albion Hall was built in 1923 by the Albion Community Association. It was bought by the municipality and demolished in 2011. Speaking of the hall, one proponent, looking back, said:
terminal which, until recent completion of the Golden Ears Bridge
, connected Maple Ridge to Langley
via ferry
across the Fraser River
..
The Albion Fairgrounds draw people from other neighbourhoods for the Maple Ridge Country Fest in July. Albion Park with picnic and some sports facilities and trails is located on 104th Avenue. The Hill House, a 1912 four storey Edwardian style 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) landmark, is located on 240th just north of Lougheed Highway.
. Albion Elementary and Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary schools serve neighbourhood families. Samuel Robertson, named after the early settler, also entices students from other neighbourhoods because of its technical focus.
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located in the northeastern section of Metro Vancouver. Maple Ridge has a population of approximately 68,949.-History:...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and is one of several small towns incorporated within the municipality at its creation. It is the oldest non-indigenous community of the district's settlements, and is only slightly younger than Fort Langley, adjacent across the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, and Kanaka Creek
Kanaka Creek, British Columbia
Kanaka Creek is an historic rural residential area located within the District of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, along the banks of the creek of the same name just east of the district's main town and commercial core of Haney. Just east is Albion and immediately across the Fraser River is...
, which is just to the west and lies along the creek of the same name. Its official definition is the area bounded by the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, Kanaka Way, and 240th Street, but in its historic sense it means the community centred on and flanking 240th Street and adjoining areas along the Fraser River waterfront and around the Maple Ridge Fairgrounds, while along Kanaka Way and also on the near bank of Kanaka Creek, the creek, is historically the community of Kanaka Creek. Burgeoning newer home construction east of 240th Street near the Lougheed Highway is also often referred to as part of Albion.
History
Samuel Robertson and his native wife Julia were the first "European" settlers, he establishing the first fruit orchard in British Columbia two years before he permanently relocated from across the river at Fort Langley. Known originally as East Haney, it was renamed Albion in 1907. Peter Baker (originally Boulanger) was another early European settler whose name was originally used for 240th Street.Trains did not stop in Albion until train personnel set a precedent by permitting one Albion resident "whose weight was not to be lightly estimated" to alight there and in this way save a long walk through a stormy evening from the stop in Haney. The next week several men demanded the same privilege, and the Albion stop on the railway was created.
Sawmills, canneries and fishboats featured in Albion's economy, and River Road, which runs between the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks and the river, has been a mixed industrial area for all of Albion's existence since the coming of the railway in the 1880s. Farmland on the north side of the highway and semi-wild green fields and trees that typified the old rural community are succumbing to suburban sprawl. Langley Indian Reserve No. 5, which includes a native cemetery, is just east of Albion on the north side of the Fraser. It is one of several reserves under the jurisdiction of the Kwantlen First Nation
Kwantlen First Nation
The Kwantlen First Nation is the band government of the Kwantlen subgroup of the Stó:lō people in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada, located primarily at Fort Langley. They traditionally speak the Downriver dialect of Halkomelem, one of the Salishan family of languages...
, whose main reserve is across the Fraser from Albion on McMillan Island
McMillan Island
McMillan Island is an island in the Fraser River. Located to the north of Fort Langley and south of Maple Ridge.-Overview:McMillan Island is located in the lower Fraser River, north of Fort Langley and south of Maple Ridge...
in Fort Langley
Fort Langley, British Columbia
Fort Langley is a village with a population of 2,700 and forms part of the Township of Langley. It is the home of Fort Langley National Historic Site, a former fur trade post of the Hudson's Bay Company.-History:...
.
Albion Hall was built in 1923 by the Albion Community Association. It was bought by the municipality and demolished in 2011. Speaking of the hall, one proponent, looking back, said:
- “The people of Albion didn’t travel very far afield but took pleasure in getting together with one another. Of necessity their lives were lived within walking distance of their homes. The Albion Hall was a result of this desire to get together in a place where transportation would not be a necessity.”:
Features
Albion was the location of the Albion FerryAlbion Ferry
The Albion Ferry, also known as the Fort Langley Ferry, was a free passenger and vehicle ferry service that was sailing across the Fraser River from June 7, 1957 to July 31, 2009...
terminal which, until recent completion of the Golden Ears Bridge
Golden Ears Bridge
The Golden Ears Bridge is a six-lane extradosed bridge in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. It spans the Fraser River, connecting Langley on the south side with Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge on the north side. The All Electronic Toll bridge, owned by TransLink, has a clearance of , and a total...
, connected Maple Ridge to Langley
Langley, British Columbia (district municipality)
The Township of Langley is a district municipality immediately east of the City of Surrey in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It extends south from the Fraser River to the U.S. border, and west of the City of Abbotsford...
via ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
across the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
..
The Albion Fairgrounds draw people from other neighbourhoods for the Maple Ridge Country Fest in July. Albion Park with picnic and some sports facilities and trails is located on 104th Avenue. The Hill House, a 1912 four storey Edwardian style 4000 square feet (371.6 m²) landmark, is located on 240th just north of Lougheed Highway.
Jackson Park
A new park is about to be added to the features of this neighbourhood, as 39 acres of rolling hills in the former Vin Jackson farm were voted into parkland by Maple Ridge council in December 2010. This is in exchange for approval of 112 new homes on another portion of the former farm. Uses for the park acreage are yet to be determined but could include a replacement for the 1923 Albion Hall."The Vinyl Monster"
At one time Albion was more remote and rural. Consistent with the rapid expansion of this neighbourhood in recent years, growth (likened to a "vinyl monster", a reference to the exterior finish of many newer area homes in an urban development which is spreading over the landscape) , shopping, and crowded elementary school facilities are among issues which have motivated discussion.Schools
Albion is served by School District 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt MeadowsSchool District 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows
School District 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows is a school district in British Columbia east of Vancouver. This includes Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.-Board of School Trustees:Board of School Trustees...
. Albion Elementary and Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary schools serve neighbourhood families. Samuel Robertson, named after the early settler, also entices students from other neighbourhoods because of its technical focus.
See also
- Thornhill, Maple Ridge
- Whonnock, British Columbia
- Webster's Corners
- New AlbionNew AlbionNew Albion, also known as Nova Albion, was the name of the region of the Pacific coast of North America explored by Sir Francis Drake and claimed by him for England in 1579...