Alder Grove Heritage Society (AGHS) is on a hunt for history 鈥� in the form of photographs, memories, and precious artifacts from Aldergrove鈥檚 past and present.
AGHS president Tami Quiring has a specific purpose in mind for the memorabilia.
鈥淭ogether we will be able to tell the story of our community to those who will arrive in the future,鈥� Quiring elaborated.
鈥淎ldergrove鈥檚 heritage is something to be really proud of,鈥� she continued.
With only a handful or so of volunteers who currently operate its Telephone Museum at 3190 271 St. (which is for now closed to curb COVID-19 spread).
Quiring worries that without more involvement from the community its most important stories will be forgotten.
鈥淚f you or members of your family have old photographs of the area 鈥� especially of downtown and along Fraser Highway pre-21st century 鈥� the society would love to add scans of them to its collection,鈥� Quiring said.
A trove of artifacts will be on display as part of a unique series celebrating Aldergrove Community Heritage Day, on a date a time still to be determined.
鈥淪tar your search now,鈥� Quiring encourages self-isolationg families, especially those who have unique connections to the area.
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This year, volunteer researchers like Aldergrove鈥檚 Teresa Spring, who was cataloguing family names of the town鈥檚 first settlers who migrated from China, Japan, and other foreign nations on Sunday afternoon.
鈥淚t鈥檚 for a display that celebrates the rich cultural history of Aldergrove,鈥� Quiring said 鈥� where from its founding was teeming with families from various cultural backgrounds.
At the event, another display will showcase, in photos, how Fraser highway has developed in the past century as a wagon trail for rural settlers to the bustling thoroughfare it is today.
鈥淚 think people will be amazed at how much has changed, and how much hasn鈥檛,鈥� she said.
Other displays will provide historical insight on the growth of Aldergrove鈥檚 commercial sector, agriculture, military, 鈥渢he changing face of downtown,鈥� and its founding families.
Quiring clarified that Heritage Day isn鈥檛 about just one or two families.
鈥淎ldergrove wasn鈥檛 built by just the Jackman鈥檚, the Shortreeds, or the Vanettas 鈥� names almost everyone [in town] knows,鈥� she continued.
鈥淚t took everyone working together to build the first school and the first church,鈥� Quiring said, hinting at exhibits that might be on display.
AGHS seeks to pay homage to those who paved the way
She used the example of one of Aldergrove鈥檚 earliest fire halls 鈥� built in 1959 鈥� which was erected because of work from 150 locals, some of whom later worked on-call to put out fires in Aldergrove.
Also, Aldergrove Agricultural Association, now known as the Fair Days Society, once sold its Agricultural hall and property to raise money for a recreation centre in Aldergrove Park 鈥� now known as Philip Jackman Park.
The generosity of its residents both past and present is what makes Aldergrove so unique, Quiring said.
She鈥檚 now asking individuals from groups, schools, and businesses to come forward and help fill in the timeline of Aldergrove鈥檚 own story 鈥� from its earliest days.
鈥淥nly together will we be able to tell the story of our community to those who will arrive in the future.鈥�
Those interested in sharing their stories, photos, and artifacts can contact AGHS by emailing info@telephonemuseum.ca.
