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Description : On the north side of the 7th Line, about 1 km. west of Bond Head, there is a metre-high cairn in the fence line, that marks the location of the home and church built by the Rev. Featherstone Osler in the late 1830s. The frame church, that would become Trinity Anglican Church in Bond Head, was initially planned a lecture base for divinity students, church school, and centre for baptisms and marriages. It was during this time, that four sons were born to the Oslers - Feathersone, Britton, Edmund and William. The two elder sons became lawyers of note, Edmund a banker, and William, a doctor who was knighted for his service to his fellow man, and whose work changed the nature of medical practice and diagnosis. A number of medical facilities in Ontario have been named in honour of Sir William Osler, and at Trinity Anglican Church today, a memorial window and brass plaque are of great interest to the members of the medical profession who come from all over the world to visit the birthplace of this leader of their chosen profession. The Osler timber-frame country church, with its stucco coating, was moved in September of 1885 from the 7th Line to the top of the hill, at the northwest corner of Bond Head. It was rollered down the rural road in sections, reassembled, then given a veneer of brick and a new steeple. New oak pews were installed, and the interior was trimmed in oak. Much of the original interior and exterior still survive, including items used by Rev. Osler himself. On December 20th, 1885, Rev. Osler travelled from his Dundas charge to officially open the renovated church in its new location. Recently, Dr. Watters, a local resident and retired surgeon, speaking to the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association, stated, "The old Osler church built and preached in by the Reverend Featherstone Osler, home to his astonishing family, is a piece of Canadian history of interest around the world. We must find some way to preserve the Osler church as part of that character, and as a reminder of the kind of people who began it."

"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..."

Canadian Forester's Band - photo in the newspaper in 1937. It was taken on July 12, 1911.
Front Row l-r: George Manton, Ed. Callendar, Harry Hammell, Lorenzo Harvey, Eldon Waldruff, Tom Bachelor
Centre l-r: Fred Hill, William Sutton, Wm. Watson, Dave Sutherland, Walter Dewar, Wm. Stewart.
Back l-r: George Simpkin, Jack Armstrong, Walter Moore, Les Ellerby, Norman Hand, Frank Hammell, Bandmaster - Dave Sutherland.

"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.

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.