"This week's photo, courtesy of the Bradford Fire Department, depicts the fire in February of 1959 which destroyed a large block of the downtown section, from Evans and Evans to the police department. The fire swept through several businesses, unprotected by fire walls. Firefighters from five arena departments battled almost 20 hours to quell the stubborn blaze which caused an estimated $500,000 damage. This week's photo was suggested by Ernest and Lola Peterman of Bradford who sent in a newspaper clipping of the fire."

"A freight train with 22 cars filled with gravel tore up 100 feet of track after it hit a spot on the tracks that was washed out by the more than three inches of rain that poured down on Bradford and Holland Marsh. Damages is estimated at over $1 million for the train wreck alone."

South Simcoe News
Volume 6, Number 274
p.2

South Simcoe News
Volume 6, Number 274
June 15, 1871
p.2

The interior of a store after hurricane Hazel.

If you have any information about this photo, please contact the Library at 905-775-3328

The interior of store after hurricane Hazel.

If you have more information about this photo, please contact the Library at 905-775-3328

Rescuers search for trapped families in the Marsh, in aftermath of Hurricane Hazel. From "And The Swamp Flourished", by Albert VanderMey, published 1994, available in Bradford at d'Olde Stee.

Volunteers handing out meals and clothing for those relocated by the Holland Marsh flood after Hurricane Hazel hit the area. Helping serve the food are Mrs. C.J. Bowden, Mrs. Ben Steers, B.M. Evans, and G.E. Boyd.

The following photos were part of a News-photo story about the fire in Bradford in 1988. The first photo's caption reads: "Possible electrical trouble is the suspected cause of Thursday's $3 million fire in Bradford. Al Nosworthy, of the Ontario Fire Marshall's office, says materials recovered from the blaze will be forwarded to the Canadian Standards Association for detailed examination. "We are satisfied it wasn't arson," Nosworthy said yesterday, adding that some wiring may have possibly shorted out. "When the flames started, they went high in the walls, above the sprinkler system and up on the roof where they were fanned by strong north-east winds." The building was about 40 years old and used to be an ice house before it was used for storage. Wooden chips were used as insulation in parts of the structure. Nosworthy said insurance representatives have been through the remains but said they may not be able to put an exact dollar figure on the damage. "We may never really know." "