English
A beloved British Columbia landmark has been lost to fire. The Little Red House, a historic farmhouse that stood in the Township of Langley for nearly 140 years, burned to the ground in the early hours of Thursday morning, leaving residents and heritage advocates mourning its loss.
A Landmark Lost to Flames
Formally known as McIver House, the Gothic-style farmhouse was built by Murdoch and Annie McIver between 1887 and 1890, according to the Township of Langley’s archives. The couple constructed the home to replace an earlier log cabin, which records describe as likely too small to house their growing family of nine children.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Township of Langley Councillor Rob Rindt shared videos of the house engulfed in flames on social media. He called the destruction “incredibly sad,” adding: “So many people photographed, painted and stopped to admire this house over the years, and now these images capture its final moments.”
A Favourite Subject for Artists and Photographers
Despite falling into disrepair in its later years, the Little Red House remained a cherished local icon. The Langley Heritage Society noted that its setting in the middle of a turf farm in the Glen Valley area made it “one of the most photographed and painted” homes in the region.
The farmhouse also served as a backdrop for professional photo shoots and video productions. According to the heritage society, the structure “evoked memories of simpler times,” drawing visitors who stopped simply to admire it.
Decades of Decline Before the Fire
Township archives, held at the heritage facility known as Salishan Place by the River, show the house remained occupied until the early 1990s. By 2010, however, it sat uninhabited and surrounded by farmland, steadily falling into disrepair.
The Langley Heritage Society posted a statement Friday describing the loss as “sad and unfortunate.” The society expressed regret that the McIver House was never formally preserved before fire claimed it.
The cause of the blaze has not been publicly confirmed. The destruction of the Little Red House closes a chapter on one of the Township of Langley’s most recognizable and historically significant structures.
