The mid-block building located at 65 John St. East was built pre-1900 in the Gothic Revival style. It was the home of Miss Hayes and her two sisters many years ago. They were known for lending money, especially to John Rob and family. The first Dutch family to move to Bradford (in 1925), the Hayes worked on the marsh and owned a greenhouse on Back Street. After the sisters died, the west lot was sold to Vic Turner in 1948.
The 1½-storey, four-bay ‘farmhouse’ has a modified, ‘L’-shaped plan with an off-centre hall and a medium-pitched, gable roof. The single-door entrance is raised slightly above grade level, the steps are not original, and there may have been a verandah originally. Large window openings contain replacement, ground-floor windows. Upper-floor, 2/2 sash windows with plain, wood trim may be original. Wood frame construction is clad with vinyl siding and the building has a parged, stone foundation. The original cladding was probably wood cove siding. According to the 2000 inventory, this modest house has probably not changed significantly since it was built. (1, 2, 3)

An ad for Bradford Seed House, c. 1944.

"The bounciest petunias and the most colourful marigolds on Simcoe Rd. are in the Van Der Hulst family garden. They grow 150,000 boxes of bedding plants each spring in the greenhouses behind their home so they have an advantage over their neighbours. With the flower season over, the family is growing tomatoes which will be ready when the field crops are depleted around September 15. Joe Van Der Hulst hasn't been too well this year but he hasn't worried about the greenhouses. Two of his children, Bert and Connie clip the tomato leaves and wind the vines around string as they grow taller and taller."

"This was the scene in a greenhouse operated by Ferragine Brothers on Simcoe Road. They estimate their losses in flowers and stock at between $20-30,000. Mud and water, 10 inches deep, swept through the greenhouse."

The two-storey house located at 205 Simcoe Road was bought and renovated by Mr. Bruce around 1928. Len Saint did the cement work and the plastering. William Ward and his family lived here later. He raised dogs and had a greenhouse and a garden at the back. He moved to James St. after he retired. (1, 2)