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Murrayville Hall moves to reduce late-night noise

Historic hall now has electronic warning device to let revelers know when they're getting too loud
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The manager of the Murrayville Community Hall has taken several steps to reduce noise complaints, including a high-tech system that flashes a warning if sound levels are excessive.

The historic Murrayville Community Hall has installed an electronic noise warning device and imposed an earlier closing time in response to complaints about loud voices and music.

An Oct. 17 letter to mayor and council from hall manager Wally Martin says the user rental agreement has been changed to move up closing times by half an hour, so the bar has to close at 10:30 p.m. instead of 11 p.m., functions must now end at 11:30 p.m. instead of midnight and cleanup has to be completed by 12:30 a.m. instead of 1 a.m.

Martin says the hall, located at the Five Corner intersection of 216 Street and 48 Avenue, has purchased an $800 noise-activated warning sign that lights up when sound levels go above allowable limits.

“The unit has been installed in such a way that it is tamper proof,” Martin’s letter states.

Renters are warned they could lose their deposit if they ignore the warning to reduce volume.

The hall has also bought a “music playing device” to demonstrate acceptable sound levels to users and has posted signs reminding users to keep doors closed when music is playing.

The steps were taken in response to a letter from the Township last year that advised there had been “several complaints regarding noise” at the hall.

Council had voted to request steps be taken to address the problem at a special closed meeting held on Oct. 20, 2014.

In his letter, Martin says the countermeasures appear to have been effective.

“I have received reports from neighbours of the hall that they noticed a significant reduction in noise coming from the hall,” Martin said.

The historic hall was built in 1928 by volunteers to replace the original community hall that burned down in 1924.

The historicplaces.ca website says the two-storey building is valued for its architectural details, “such as its unusual roof form (not quite a gabled hip), narrow lapped wooden siding, and scalloped shingles above the main entry.”

It adds the building “represents the shift of the economic, political and social centre of the region from Fort Langley to Murrayville following the Edwardian building boom of the 1910s.”

The hall is associated with the pioneer Porter family, first through George Porter, who opened a blacksmith shop in 1894.

His son, Philip Young Porter (known as PY), sold the hall property to the Murrayville Community Hall Association for the sum of $1 in 1944.



Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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