"The Bradford Public School Girls Baseball team won the area five championship last Wednesday. The girls won four games on their way to the top. From [right to left] in the front row are: Laurie Alebeek, Michelle Woodcock, Kathy Kent, Annette Cummings, Ellen Mason, Fanny Callicrogh and Linda Moore. In the back row are: Peggy Lasher, Sharon Deakin, Sheryl Timbers, Dawn Firth, Kelly Graham, Joan Deakin, Margaret Lotto and Mrs. Taylor the coach."
This edition of the Bradford Witness is located in the Local History Room, and is in particular a very noteworthy edition. The printing of this edition included many photographs of local businessmen, houses, storefronts, churches, and of the main streets. It also included mini-biographical articles of the people included, acting as a local history gold-mine for Bradford's early 1900s. We have included some of these photographs and articles here, though a full copy of the text and photographs was reorganized thematically by the Bradford West Gwillimbury Historical Society in 1997.
"Dorothy Cilipka of RR4, Bradford, submitted this week's photo showing the Bradford centennial parade in 1957. The event coincided with the annual Gala Days celebration. Dorothy said she obtained a copy of the photo after seeing it displayed in Ritchie's patent medicine store."
"Alex Haley in his recent novel, Roots, aptly illustrated the significance and importance of having a sense of where one has come from. A person who has such a sense of his genealogical history is Charles Evans, Bradford's nominee to receive the jubilee commemorative medal. Dates are special to Mr. Evans because they indicate the changes that have occurred in his family's growth and development since moving into the Bradford area more than a century ago. Mr. Evans is a fifth-generation of the Evans family to live near Bradford."
"A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten brought the spirit of Christmas a little closer to over 600 people at the December program of the Barrie Concert Association. The Canadian Children's Opera Chorus is the second of a four-concert series held at Georgian College Theatre. News of Benjamin Britten's death on Saturday was announced by Dr. Derek Holman, director of the chorus. It lent a touch of sadness to the performance, because Britten's contribution to vocal works for young people has been enormous. His work, too, has that rare quality of being extremely attractive to children and teenagers."
"Two first place trophies were taken home by Ken Wood of Bradford from the Barrie antique car flea market held at Formosa Park recently. The cars that took the first prize award for the early class category are his 1929 Pierce Arrow and the first prize for the early general interest category with his 1930 Chevrolet. Both cars were in the 1926 to 1933 classes."
"Rotary President Gary Vasey welcomed two new members to the Bradford Club recently. The new members are Ian Jones and Gordon Biddie. Rotary Director, George Hartman, was also on hand to make the two new members feel at home."
"Mike Kilkenny called his baseball career to a halt in 1973 after a squabble with the management of the Cleveland Indians, but he may be on his way to the major leagues again. Mike, who was raised in Bradford, told The Witness that a successful year with the Senior Intel County Baseball League's London Majors has drawn scouts from the big leagues south of the border to take a look. Mike went on to say that his season's statistics have aroused interest. So far this year he has won and finished each of the nine games he started and has 130 strike outs in 85 innings."
"David and Georgie Clark, both 25, are travelling around North America in their double decker bus. They bought the bus for $700, converted it for just under $2,000 and shipped it to Canada for $2,500. Hopefully, their next stop will be Australia, according to Mr. Clark."
