A time capsule will contain the history of the site now dubbed the Reid Block in downtown Fort Langley, the site’s developer announced Thursday.
Mark van der Zalm said it was only fitting that the new development, a two-storey mixture of storefronts and four upstairs condo apartments, should be named after the family had stamped their history on the site.
Present to cut the ribbon for the site were four members of the Reid family – Helen, Bernice, Don, and Jim.
Don’s father Charlie started the family business there as a blacksmith’s shop and garage around 1910 or 1912.
He kept operating the site for decades, with his son Don taking over completely once Charlie passed away. Don retired and closed the shop in the 1990s. The buildings saw a variety of uses until the new developers proposed a new building on the site, located at the corner of Church Street and Mavis Avenue.
Van der Zalm said the time capsule will be installed under a plaque in front of the main entrance to the building, and is to be opened on Oct. 8, 2064, 50 years from the date of the building’s opening.
It will contain copies of the Reid Garage bill book and business licenses, of the building permit for the new structure, a current photo of Bedford Channel taken from the Jacob Haldi Bridge, and front pages from the week’s Langley Advance and Langley Times.
It will also contain a flash drive full of documents contributed by Langley Township. Mayor Froese joked about whether anyone will have a device that can read the drive in 50 years.
One of the new businesses to open in the Reid Block is the Blacksmith Bakery, named after the site’s original function.
The four Reid family members, along with Froese, cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the building.