Bradford's Bertha Langford celebrated her 90th birthday last week with more than 200 family and friends in attendance. The energetic lady still loves to bowl. Happy birthday!

"On May 27th, 1857, the Town of Bradford was incorporated. Next Sunday, May 27th, Bradford will launch a year of Sesquicentennial celebrations, with a Re-enactment, Proclamation and Sesquicentennial Flag-raising, 3 p.m. outside the Bradford West Gwillimbury Council Chambers on Holland St. East.
There will be a proclamation by the Mayor, greetings from the County, Province and Federal government - and a brief (and humorous) re-enactment of the incorporation, by the award-winning Bradford District High School Drama Club.
Then watch as the flag is raised, and enjoy a slice of Sesquicentennial cake.
Organizers are looking for participants for a Sesquicentennial Parade to take place at 3 p.m. on August 19th, following the same route as the Santa Claus Parade. The theme: 'Bradford Through the Ages'.
Anyone with antique farm equipment, classic or antique cars; representatives of Minor League sports, and hockey alumni of Bradford's historic teams (The Blues, Vasey Jrs., etc); choirs and bands - in fact, any community group, business or organization is invited to participate in this historic event.
The Town is looking for nominations for Parade Marshal; residents can nominate anyone for the honorary position. There will also be a contest for Junior Marshal."

Newspaper clipping from September 21, 1983 edition of the Bradford Witness.
Bertha Langford celebrated her 93rd birthday on September 6, 1983, with a gathering of approximately fifty family members at her daughter-in-law Ella's farm.

"On the eve of his 92nd birthday, Tuesday, Bill Ruffett told the story of the booming ice industry of yesteryear. Bell Ewart - "I started on the ice when I was 12 yeards old. Father had rented the old hotel on the south side of the dock of 1897 for one dollar a month. After the old sawmill had burned down, the hotel went out of business. I remember well tearing out the bar. It was then I started to lead a horse on an ice plow for 50 cents a day for the Belle Ewart Ice Company. It was the only ice company there then and was across the road from my home where Sheppard's Marina is today. I remember the winter of 1906 was very mild and the big lake never froze over until nearly spring. The railroad was still here, you see, from the era of meeting the Lake Simcoe excursion boats. It was then ice companies from Jackson's Point came here, partly because of the railroad. Their only transportation there, for ice to Toronto, was by street car. I had anywhere from 60 to 80 men working for me at one time, all farmer's boys."

Files including letters, newspaper clippings (namely birth and death records), photographs, and essays on select families of Bradford West Gwillimbury

A record book of births that occurred in the Bradford area. The record covers births attended by Drs. B. L. Sinclair and Ray Judge from 1938 - 1947 and was recorded by Mae Fuller. Fuller was an area midwife and also ran a "nursing home" out of her home on Church Street.

A record book of births that occurred in the Bradford area. The record covers births attended by Drs. B. L. Sinclair and Ray Judge from 1938 - 1947 and was recorded by Mae Fuller. Fuller was an area midwife and also ran a "nursing home" out of her home on Church Street.