Photograph of the Bradford Bulls' Home Opener in October 1992.

Bill Marks playing hockey in his back yard in front of the Bradford Cabinet Works with an old blacksmith shop on the left.

Photograph of Bradford Celery Kings Hockey Team at Old John St. West Arena (now a town parking lot)

Back Row: Fred "Colly" Collings (Older man in hat and coat), Chris Lotto, D. Kearns, Mike Wannamaker, Austin Bulman, Johnny Bulman, Roger Giffen, Bill Boycoff
Front Row: Mike Kulha, Mike Brinkos, Art Evans, Bruce Collings, Doug Harvey, Don Coats

The Bradford Hockey Club from the 1914-1915 year.
Front Row (l-r): D. Riddell, Jay Germaine, Frank Hammell
Back row (l-r): Bert Chester, Bruce McKay, Jim Curry, Mac McLean, Fred Collings

An ashtray made up of the bottoms of three wooden hockey sticks manufactured in Bradford. Factory workers often created ashtrays out of the hockey sticks they manufactured. The base of the item has reproduction signatures (possibly stamped) of Joe Primeau, Bill Thoms and "Red" Horner. These players played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1935/36 season.

"Hockey Stick Factory - Yet another industry that once thrived in the Bradford Carriage Works building. Hockey sticks for the NHL as well as axe handles came off the production line between the years 1935 to 1937."

Photograph of the Bradford Bulls' Home Opener in October 1992. This image is of the puck drop.

Event Date : Monday, October 06, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Norman (Dodger) Collings, whose life spanned the fields of sports, farming and community involvement, died at the age of 65 Monday after a short illness in Chedoke Hospital, Hamilton. Mr. Collings was born in Bradford and educated at the local public and high school. After finishing high school, he began a professional hockey career. During that career, he played with a number of American minor league teams as well as the old New York Americans and Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He also played on a West Toronto Memorial Cup championship team. Mr. Collings was renowned locally for his athletic ability and, as well as being an accomplished hockey player, he was active in lacrosse, curling and golf. Before joining the management of Hardee Farms and Federal Diversiplex in the mid-sixties, Mr. Collings worked as a market gardener on land he owned in the Holland Marsh. In 1965 he joined Hardee Farms and in 1970 was appointed vice-president and general manager of the Bradford plant's operations. Always enthusiastic, Mr. Collings also involved himself deeply in the community. He was a member and past president of the Bradford Lions Club and an Elder in the United Church. He served as the town's volunteer fire chief, succeeding his father who had held the post before him. For a number of years, Mr. Collings was a member of the Bradford Village Council and was a former member and chairman of the Bradford and District Community Centre Board. His works in the community brought Mr. Collings the respect and esteem of the community at large. While active in his community, Mr. Collings was an unassuming man. He was known to most people by the nickname Dodger, which he picked up during his sports career. Mr. Collings is survived by his wife for more than 40 years, Jean; his son, Tom, now a county engineer in Stratford; his daughter Mary Jane Buyers, now living in Melbourne, Australia, and seven grandsons. Mr. Collings is resting in the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home in Bradford. Funeral services will be held at the Bradford United Church Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

"Frank Tunney Jr., recreation director of the Bradford
Community Centre, died last Thursday of cancer, He was 38. Mr. Tunney leaves his wife Cathy and five children, Michael, 9, Anne, 8, Bridget, 6, Marty, 5, Tricia, 3. Funeral service was held Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. Mr. Tunney, the son of wrestling promoter Frank Tunney Sr., took over as manager of the Bradford arena in May of 1973. Before that, he was an instrument technician for Orenda Engines in Malton and a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department. He continued working at the community centre up to one week before finally losing his battle with the disease. Long-time family friend Sandy Hudson said, "He had that characteristic that he would not let this get him without a fight." Under his direction, the Bradford Community Centre became one of the finest and most smoothly run buildings in the area. "He was the backbone of this place," said Don Harrison, assistant manager of the arena. "Frank was the kind of guy who would help anyone who needed it." Last year Mr. Tunney also took on the position of Recreation Co-ordinator, a job he tackled with his customary enthusiasm. During the summer months, he managed the Bradford Lions Pool. An active member of the Bradford Rotary Club, Mr. Tunney was a "very involved member," according to club president Bas Visser. "He had a lot of hope and energy. You really had to admire him." Mr. Tunney was also a sports enthusiast. He coached the Allenby Electric novice hockey team, and formerly wrote a weekly curling column in The Witness. Last year he donned his skates to play for the Bradford Oldtimers hockey team. Saturday during the service at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the church was jammed with family, friends, sports and television personalities."

"The first thing most people associate with Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians is New Year's Eve, the traditional event for Guy Lombardo and his world-famous band welcoming in another year at some famous New York hotel. This year Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians will be far removed from both New York and New Year's Eve when they play in the Bradford
Community Centre Friday, May 27. Mr. Lombardo, a native Canadian with a 13-member band including a crooner, will play all the old favorites for about 1,000 persons at the community centre. Guy Lombardo and his band will come to town by private bus just before the performance, and be bused out immediately after. He will not be spending any time in the immediate area. With less than 200 tickets left, Mr. Travis said that it was unlikely that they would last too much longer, even considering the fact there are four months to go until the performance. Tickets may be purchased from any Rotary member."

An ashtray made up of the bottoms of three wooden hockey sticks manufactured in Bradford. Factory workers often created ashtrays out of the hockey sticks they manufactured. The base of the item has reproduction (possibly stamped) signatures of Joe Primeau, Bill Thoms and "Red" Horner. These players played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1935/36 season.

"Hockey Stick Factory - Yet another industry that once thrived in the Bradford Carriage Works building. Hockey sticks for the NHL as well as axe handles came off the production line between the years 1935 to 1937."