"The first major steps to preserve the heritage of the Scotch Settlement and area were taken last week when about 20 people officially founded a historical society. Known as the Scotch Settlement and District Historical Society, it will seek to preserve the historical record of not only the struggles of the Scottish settlers but those of Bradford and West Gwillimbury as well. Phillip Baker, a representative of the Ministry of Culture and Recreation was on hand to describe the procedure in setting up a historical society, the grant structure, and the initial problems that will have to be faced..."

Photograph of the old Bradford High School on Queen Street

Photograph of the old Bradford Public School on Queen and Rebecca Streets

"The Bradford West Gwillimbury Heritage Committee, established by the previous Council, came to Committee of the Whole on January 16th, to present a proposal for a municipal register of culturally and historically important properties..."

"Dubbed the world's greatest carrot festival, the premier downtown Bradford event returned to the streets for a 16th time Saturday. Carrot Fest will close Holland Street in downtown for the day to make way for a myriad of activities, while more fun will also be had in other parts of the downtown and the municipality, such as a midway all weekend long at the Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre, 125 Simcoe Rd." ...

"Construction crews working on Holland Street West uncovered a bit of history last week. According to several workers at the road reconstruction site, several large timber-like beams were unearthed from about six feet below the present surface of the road. It is likely that the beams date from the 1800s, and were either part of, or laid just after the demolition of, the first covered road in the county...."

Description : For the past few months, I have had the absolute pleasure of taking a trip down memory lane, by reading "Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The Legacy of West Gwillimbury." I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to those who generously volunteered their time to compile and publish this historical account of the Township of West Gwillimbury. The historical data give the readers a good view of how the Township got its origin. Just as an individual family or farm can't stand alone, neither can a Township, without the intermingling of the small hamlets. It is so interesting to read how places like Pine Hill and Ham's Corners derived their names, just to mention a few. Many of those with whom I have spoken referred to the book as "only about the Township," making it of no interest to Bradford residents. I disagree. Bradford figures prominently in the book, for it was the source of industry and market for many of the rural farms in the surrounding community. Bradford was also the hot spot for social gatherings. Trips from the hamlets into Bradford on Saturday evenings were a weekly highlight for many families.

Newspaper article on the creation of the Elizabeth Gwillim Simcoe statue

Newspaper editorial on the Lady Gwillim Simcoe statue prior to the unveiling ceremony

Description : It was the realization of a 4-year dream... Back in 2001, George Jackson, founder and chair of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, broached the idea of a comprehensive history of the Twp. of West Gwillimbury. The book would focus on the founders and settlers of the Township, the farming families, the businesses, and the flavour and character of life in a rural Township. Jackson quickly drew together a team of enthusiastic volunteers, many of them members of the Local History group, but also others, eager to participate and explore their own genealogy and heritage. In all, 115 volunteers spanning 5 generations took part in the "WEGWHIST" Project. They collected family histories and stories, tracked down archival records, collated photographs that spanned the decades, and worked with staff at Friessens Publishing in Altoona, Manitoba, to put together "Governor Simcoe Slept Here - The Legacy of West Gwillimbury Township." The original idea was to print 750 copies of a 500 page book. The book is now 825 pages, in 2 volumes - with scores of photographs, and a CD that contains a 100-plus page index with over 10,000 entries, and 140 color plates of the Twp. One thousand copies have been printed; 750 were pre-sold, before the launch. The book was formally launched on December 15 at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Bradford. Over 100 people turned out to watch as the volunteers were thanked, and a presentation copy, piped into the room, was presented to the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury by Jackson and Association Secretary, Barbara Verney. Deputy Mayor Dennis Roughley accepted the copy on behalf of the municipality.