These shops were located on Holland St. East, near Barrie Street. This building used to be Bracken's Drug Store, owned by Mr E.O. Bracken and part of I.D.A. (Independent Druggists Alliance). Mrs. Myrtle Bracken was a Public School Teacher. Today this is a jewellery store.
Please contact the library (905-775-3328) if you have any more information on this photo.
Dimock's Garage was an important business in Bradford in the early 1930's when this photo was taken. Harold Iceton, who submitted the photo writes: "Mrs. Al Dimock, affectionately known as Minnie to her many friends (gave me this photo). The photo dates back to 1931 when Albert Dimock first started up business in Bradford with his young son Hedley. They were soon joined by his wife Minnie and daughter Eileen. This building has now been demolished and replaced by the Royal Bank Building.
"Gordon Compton, who owns the Bradford IGA, was born in London, Ontario, where his father ran the local A and P store. Gord's family moved around quite a bit from the time he was born in 1933, until they settled in Bradford. His father owned the old IGA store, now the site of 'Flowers by Tina.' After graduating from high school, Gord studied for a year at the School of Mines in Haileybury, Ontario, but gave up his studies and returned to help out in the family business when his father became ill. He eventually took over the business and saw IGA move into its present home in 1966."
Late Mrs. (John) Stibbs, her daughter, Florence (Mrs. Geo. Fogel) and son, Norman. The late Walter Probert was the sign painter. The sign in the window offers "$50 reward for Robber", as stated by Mrs. Fogel in later years. S.S. McKenzie owned the storefront later. Walter Probert was the sign painter.
Looking north west in Bradford at the intersection of Holland Street and Yonge Street. This is the northwest corner of the main intersection in Bradford. This building was first known as the Innis House. In 1906, it was called the Central Hotel, and ran by Peter Holt. He had purchased the property in 1899 from Mr. L. Algeo. It had 22 bedrooms, and two sitting rooms. It was heated by a furnace, and lighted by acetylene. At this time, it was the longest established hotel in Bradford, and was frequented by the farming community when they came into Bradford. In this picture, it is the Uneeda Hotel. It later became the Bank of Commerce and then the 11 and 88 Convenience Store. Today, it is the Coffee Culture cafe.
The article accompanying this photograph gives a quick history of B.B. "Ben" Collings' life and business. By this point, his furniture and undertaking business was only four years old (starting in 1902) and the storefront is shown in the photograph, located on the south-west corner of Holland and Drury Streets. The post office is opposite. It was said in the showroom, there would "be found some of the nicest furniture one could wish to place in his home." Starting in 1897, Ben spent four years studying the mattress making trade in Toronto.
