Skip to content

Historic Aldergrove school site sold

County Line Elementary school said to become a new private school
7744576_web1_countylineschool
Aerial view of County Line School property, with tennis courts and parking at east end and turf playing fields at west end. The site is surrounded by farm properties.

The last of four empty schools in Langley has been sold.

The former County Line Elementary, at 62 Ave. and 264 St. has been sold, confirmed Langley School District.

“The purchaser said it is going to be a private school of some sort,” said Langley district secretary-treasurer David Green.

The 4.5 acre site is zoned institutional.

Bradshaw Elementary, County Line Elementary, Murrayville Elementary along with a vacant parcel of land on 32 Avenue were put up for sale in 2016. They are all sold.

The schools were closed over the years when populations shifted away from rural farming areas.

The original County Line was built in 1918, and rebuilt after a fire in 1931.

The current County Line Elementary opened in 1948, with four divisions enrolling grades one to six, plus an activity room. The new school was the first project to be completed under the $429,000 School Loan By-law which received the assent of the electors on May 6, 1946.

The school only took three months to build, but in a sense was an experimental one, both in style, construction and labour-saving devices, such as plywood and wallboard. Emphasis was placed on good lighting, book shelving, and cupboard space. Principal Brian Stigant was delighted with the central heating, kitchen, and especially the flush toilets.

In 1962 two extra classrooms, a furnace room, and a supply room were added. In 1968 a Kindergarten annex and hall were built. In 1969 a staffroom was added. In 1973 tennis courts were added and a new kiln was purchased. In 1976 a new half size gym was constructed, and the tennis courts were moved and enlarged. The old gym was remodelled as a library. In 1987 the gymnasium was enlarged to full size with change rooms, and three new classrooms were added. A computer lab and extra office space were then added, as well as an adventure playground.

County Line had been rented out to TV and film makers in recent years after it had been closed. Enrolment was 104 at time of its closure more than ten years ago.

The Murrayville Elementary site sits on prime real estate along 48 Avenue.

Revenue from the school sites go to building the new $50 million high school in Willoughby.

It was last year that the board of education voted to sell off the school sites.

Given the complexity of marketing the four properties and the time involved, district staff decided to take advantage of the services offered through the government’s “RAEG” (Release of Assets for Economic Generation) program.

The chosen realty firm provided marketing plans, recommended list prices, selling strategies, probable selling prices and commission information.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
Read more