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Well-trained, service-minded employees. A friendly atmosphere. Quality products at competitive prices. Those are part of the "Homecare" promise - but they have always been the goals at Spence Homecare, even when the business was primarily a lumber yard. Spence Lumber was founded in 1919 by James Spence, on the site of what is now MacDonald's Restaurant and South Simcoe Square. James was followed by his son, A.W., then grandson, Keith Noble. Now it's the 4th generation, great grandson Ron Noble, who runs the operation. Spence Lumber weathered the Roaring Twenties, the Dirty Thirties, the war years, the post-war baby boom, the changes of the '60s and '70s, at its old site. But in the '80s, the increasing trend towards home renovation, and "do-it-yourself" repairs led to a decision to move, and expand. The old retail space, notes Ron, covered only 800 to 1,000 square feet. "We were kind of land-locked, and there was no real growth potential." In 1900, the store moved to its current site at 90 Dissette,where it has 6,000 square feet of retail space, and over four acres of lumber yard - and joined 160 other stores in Ontario under the "Homecare" banner. "It was always a traditional lumber yard, whereas now I would consider it...a building centre," Ron says, explaining the change. The Centre offers "a complete range of everything you need for building, renovating, decorating." The transition from lumber yard to building supply centre has been a smooth one, he says, helped in part by the affiliation with Homecare, "which gives us volume buying power - which, in turn, can be turned over to the consumer," as a competitive prices. But the best part has been the consumer response. "When we moved to this location, the support we've had from our customers and friends was just about the nicest thing." To say thank-you to those customers, Spence Homecare celebrated its 75th anniversary, October 14th to 16th, with a special sales, lucky draws and a charity barbecue.

July 21, 1992
Death
REID, Frances Rose suddenly at her residence on Tuesday July 21, 1992, Frances Kachura of Bradford in her 68th year. Beloved wife of the late William White Reid. Loving mother of Walter. Dear daughter of Elaina and the late Michael Kachura. Dear sister of Mary (Mrs. Ronald McAinsh) of Ottawa and Michael of Ottawa. Friends called at Lathangue and Skwarchuk Funeral Homes, 30 Simcoe St. Bradford. Funer MAss was held at Holy Martyrs of Japan Church, Bradford on Friday July 24th, 1992 at 10 a.m. Interment at Notre Dame Cemetery, Ottawa. Donations to the York County Hospital Cardiac Care Unit.

"To celebrate Canada's 125th birthday, why not take a walking tour of some of the oldest streets in Bradford, four of which date back 162 years!" ...

December 19, 1992
Marriage
On Saturday, December 19, 1992 Michelle Lee Douglas, daughter of Tony and Anne Douglas of Schomberg, Ontario was married to Brian Norman Mills, son of Norman and Beverely [sic] Mills of Gilford, ON at Churchill United Church.
The happy couple were married by Rev. Cliff Pendlebury in an old-fashioned Christmas setting complete with carolers and candelight. The attendants carried Christmas bouquets of red, white and green. The reception was held at the Barrie Civitan Centre followed by a honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

An article about the creation of a "Booketeria" in order to help provide library services to the Bond Head area.

"What is a Booketeria? It's a self-serve mini-library, a new and innovative way to make library resources more available in a small community. With the help of the Bond Head Post Mistress Judith Baguely, room was found in the tiny Bond Head Post Office for shelving that holds approximately 450 paperback books, ranging from adult titles to kids' literature, and from romance and murder mysteries, to the latest works by Canadian authors..."

Description : On Sunday, September 19th, the Hon. Henry Newton Rowell Jackman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, will be present at the Simcoe County Administration Centre for the unveiling of two historic plaques commemorating the bicentennial of the 1793 expedition to Simcoe District of Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada; and the establishment in 1843 of Simcoe County as a separate administrative district of the province. The ceremonies commence at 1 p.m., at the centre in Midhurst. The Lieutenant Governor will unveil the Bicentennial plaque, while Helen Coutts, Reeve of Vespra, will represent the County Warden to unveil the County plaque.

September 25, 1993
Marriage
Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Ooutts wish to announce the marriage of their daughter Jane Ellen to James Sebastian son of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Scicluna of Michigan, U.S.A. on Saturday, September 25, 1993 at Bond Head United Church.

"The story of Ansnorveld began in 1928, when Peter Rol and his family arrived in Bradford from Holland. An experienced farmer, Rol was soon working on the land here, also. He learned to speak English by attending services in the Presbyterian church, and he learned to read English by reading comic strips. The language problem being resolved, the industrious family had, by 1930, opened up its own market where the Rol produce was sold. ..."

"Rev. Phillip Carroll, Pastor at the Bradford Pentecostal Assembly just North of Town, is getting tired of crawling under buildings to unfreeze water pipes.
With that as an incentive, and a growing flock of parishioners to contend with, a unique building project is set to begin at the end of March. For five weeks, volunteer workers from across the province will give up their vacation time to help construct a new church, replacing the two small portable structures at the South-east corner of Highway 11 and the 9th Concession.
Each week, the Bradford Pentecostal Assembly holds services for 40 to 60 people in an area no bigger than a primary school classroom. A cold winter helped convince Carroll of the need for larger, modern facilities. The present building "just isn't meeting our needs," he said.
The Church building project is being organized under the auspices of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Plans are now in the final stages of preparation, and onl;y a few building permits and a fire code inspection remain as hurdles, before the ceremonial ground-breaking two weeks from now.
The new church will have seating for 170, and a full basement with kitchen facilities and classrooms. Carroll estimates the building will cost about $175,000, less than half what it would cost using a more traditional method of construction.
A similar project in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario, was accomplished in just under two months, and Carroll is sure things will work out in Bradford.
"It's going to be very inspiring to watch...the building rise" "

"James G. McKinstry was born in the town of Bradford on December 4th, 1884. He enlisted on December 11, 1915, into the 10th Royal Grenadiers, who were later absorbed into the 123rd Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. The 123rd served in Canada until they embarked for England, on August 8th, 1915. McKinstry served at Bramshott Camp and was confirmed in the rank of A/L Corporal, in 1916. He was appointed A/Cpl. in 1917. In early February, 1917, the 123rd Battalion served overseas in France and Flanders, as a Pioneer Battalion. McKinstry remained in England as a instructor, but was dispatched to the front one month later, as part of the Canadian Corps below Vimy Ridge. In October of that year, the Corps moved to Flanders to aid the British in their autumn offensive. The attack on Passchendaele Ridge took several stages to complete. Cpl. McKinstry was killed in action at Passchendaele on October 21st,1917, and is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, in Belgium. He was 31 years old at the time of his death. At the end of the offensive in November, the Canadian Corps had sustained 16,000 casualties.