Municipality : West Gwillimbury
Community : Holland Marsh
Lot : 8
Concession : 3

Description : This photo is taken from west of Hwy. 400 after Hurricane Hazel (Oct. 15, 1954). Debris is shown piled up along Hwy. 400, which is on the far side of the hydro poles. The top of a long pile of bagged onions can be seen in the foreground. Note: onions were not used as sandbags.

Municipality : West Gwillimbury
Community : Holland Marsh
Lot : 8
Concession : 3
Description : A flooded field facing north east from Hwy. 400 after Hurricane Hazel (Oct. 15, 1954). In the foreground is the service road that runs beside Hwy. 400 between Hwy. 9 and the Canal Road. Bags of harvested onions are stacked in the field.

Article on the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Hazel, with recollections from Marsh and Bradford residents

This article lists the members of the Emergency Relief Committee for the Holland Marsh Flood due to Hurricane Hazel.

"To help solve the housing problem for the thousand or more people made homeless by the flood a trailer town is being planned.
Bradford Rotary Club members are in charge of this project and the objective is 100 trailer cabins to be located on the ball grounds. It is proposed to install showers and toilet facilities to serve this big trailer camp.
The search for a sufficient number of trailers is already underway."

Debris from the marshland piling up along Highway 400. Photograph from Betty Kennedy's 'Hurricane Hazel,' found in the Local History Collection.

"About 50 Holland Marsh farmers are suing the Townships of West Gwillimbury and King, claiming damage to crops in August because of flooding. The farmers served notice of their intentions through their lawyers last month, saying the two municipalities neglected to clean the Schomberg River, and that the pumps at a pumping station didn't work during the heavy rain of August 16. The petition signed by the farmers was sent to the councils by their lawyer Norman Borins of Toronto. It states that because of the failure of the pumphouse much of the land near or level with the river was covered with water. King Mayor Margaret Britnell said the township has no obligation to the farmers because the cleaning of the canal and pumping operations are under the jurisdiction of the Holland Marsh Drainage Commission. Council agreed to receive the letter and send it on to the commission. West Gwillimbury council has referred the matter to the township's insurance company, Frank Cowan Company Limited."

Marsh Canal

List of documents donated by Art Janse that relate to the Holland Marsh Scheme

One pair of marsh clippers. These clippers were used for cutting lettuce on the Holland Marsh during the 1930s. Part of a donation by Tom Fuller Jr. that consists of items used in agriculture on the Holland Marsh.