Article featuring Ernst Heinrichs, engineer, and his proposal to the town council on the Holland River bridge's replacement needs. At the time, the bridge was 34 years old and had shifted two feet from its original position.

Article from the King Connection on King township's portion of the Holland Marsh, which West Gwillimbury traded for a train bridge into the town of Bradford in 1852.

Photograph of the VIA Rail (CP) train passing through Bradford (on the Holland River Bridge) in February, 1979

Photograph of the VIA Rail (CP) train on the Holland River bridge in April 1979.

Photograph of the Via Rail Train going south over the Holland River bridge in 1988.

This notebook contains the levels taken and noted by Dave Sutherland for the Holland Marsh Reclamation Scheme. The second page (as seen in this image) states, "Holland Marsh reclamation scheme commencing at west side of Holland River going S.W. across marsh Feb 15/24."

A Keuffel & Esser level that was used for activities such as surveying. It was originally owned by Professor William H. Day, who was integral to the Holland Marsh Drainage Scheme's beginnings. The survey of the marsh determined the elevation of the muck soil and the bordering "highland" soils, providing the information the planners would need to determine the grades, estimate the materials to be moved and to determine the alignment of the canal.

The drainage scheme report came out in 1924 and work began in the mid-1920s. The work involved intercepting part of the Holland River and the diversion of water around the perimeter of the area using drainage canals. Canal excavation materials were used to create dykes on the to-be reclaimed (marshland) side of the canals. The re-claimed land was used for farming and roads were constructed on top of the dykes to allow for transportation.

Ae box for an instrument, a Keuffel & Esser level.

Part of a collection of Professor William H. Day's work equipment, donated by Joe Saint. Both the case and level were originally owned by Professor William H. Day, who was integral to the Holland Marsh Drainage Scheme's beginnings. The equipment was traded to Len Saint in the 1930s for a truck. The survey of the marsh determined the elevation of the muck soil and the bordering "highland" soils, providing the information the planners would need to determine the grades, estimate the materials to be moved and to determine the alignment of the canal.

Heading into Bradford over the Holland River, looking west.

The Bradford Witness decided to release a series of articles from local townspeople on the history of certain events in Bradford and West Gwillimbury's time. This week, the Holland River is the topic.