History & Restoration
In 1974 a small group of Kaslo residents got together, with what to some, was considered to be, a crazy idea.
• Michael Guthrie
• Darelyn Guthrie
• Fern Van Horn
• Fred Hiigli
• Murry Ford
• Barbara Scrivens
• Allen Dobie
• Jackie Bowyer
• Pat Bowyer
• Allen Davidson
• Gloria Davidson
• Jim Van Horn
• Bart Darnell
They took a derelict old building, that was to be demolished, and restored it into a cultural centre with a theatre, an art gallery and studios for artists. In June of 1975 the Langham Cultural Society was registered as a society.
The Langham Hotel had been built in mid 1890’s during the heyday of mining. It was so busy during this economic high that beds were rented in three shifts a day. The bar ran from the front of the building right to the back and never stopped serving drinks. As years passed, it saw many other incarnations: a bottling plant; a wooden boat factory and a bank. It fell into disrepair. During the Second World War the Langham was used as an internment centre for approximately 80 Canadians of Japanese descent.
After Herculean efforts to restore her, the first floor was opened in 1977; followed by the second and third floors in June of 1978. In 1977 the Langham Cultural Society was awarded The Park and Tilford Trophy, “for exceptional efforts devoted to beautification and community benefit”. It also received the Heritage Canada National Prize Award, “for an outstanding contribution to heritage conservation in Canada.
On 6 August 1988 a ceremony to formally apologize to the Japanese Canadians interned in the Langham and elsewhere in Kaslo took place. The Village of Kaslo became the first municipality to offer redress. A plaque was affixed to the exterior of the Langham. The Japanese Canadian Museum was opened on May 23, 1993 dedicated to the Japanese Canadians, their courage under adversity and their ability to overcome injustice.
The Langham has become an integral part of the community of Kaslo and the North Kootenay Lake.
See more on Michael Guthrie’s webpage here: http://moorafa.com/Langham.html
