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Steve Rushton of Bradford stands by the wreckage of his camper-trailer yesterday after it was picked up by a tornado and dumped 75 feet away in a neighbor's yard. Several homes were damaged by the twister but there were no injuries.

Contains articles, clippings, and photographs of Bradford West Gwillimbury sports and athletes

Contains articles, clippings, and photographs of Bradford West Gwillimbury businesses

An old time postcard featuring Bradford Public School. This photo is from the Bradford Womens Institute Scrapbooks.

Bradford & District Memorial Community Centre and Bradford Curling Club.

A tree lies across Colburne St, one of the many uprooted by the tornado that hit Bradford. The Nelson-Cambridge area was also hard hit, as was the International Fruit building.

Tec-We-Gwil Hall, home of the Women's Institute of Tecumseth and West Gwillimbury Townships, and the Centennial Lodge.

Retiring After 31 Years Brings Her Mixed Emotions
By John Slykhuis

After 31 years of teaching about 1,000 pupils at Bradford Public School, Barbara Stewart is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a thought that brings a mixture of emotions for her. One one hand is the anticipation of doing the things she has been dreaming of for years: travelling extensively in winter and relaxing at her cottage in Minden in summer. On the other hand: "I'm going to miss the children," she admits, "And the staff too. I have many good friends here." Her last class, she says, is particularly special. "I'm really enjoying this last class. This is one of the nicest classes I've ever taught." This Grade 3 class, like the one she started with in 1941, is small and close, almost like a family. She had 13 children to teach in a small one room schoolhouse in Markham Township that first year, and they represented all eight grades. Five years later, she started at the old Bradford Public School, and she has been here ever since. There are so many memories here for Miss Stewart that it is difficult for her to pick out any one, but one does stand out in her mind. Several years ago, the Lions Club of Bradford brought over a crippled girl from India, Vanita Khubchandi, to have an operation at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. While here, she attended Miss Stewart's Grade 7 class. "She came every morning in an ambulance on a stretcher. She had to lie flat on her back all the time...The children really took to her." Then the day arrived for her operation. "The biggest thrill was the day she walked back into the classroom. Oh, the children were so excited. They had a party for her." Miss Stewart still hears from her occasionally and reports that she is walking well and has just finished high school. There are other memories too: walking through snow bank in the early years only to find out when she arrives that the school was closed; teaching her favorite subject, music; and taking the girls' choir to Newmarket where it won first prize. She taught a huge 45-pupil Grade 4-5 class a few years ago ("that was the most challenging and the most rewarding"), and watched the growth of children just arrived from other countries ("It was most rewarding to see them learn the language and go on to do well"). And what about the modern school system? "Well, I approve of the new standard of reporting the progress of a child. But I would far sooner talk to the parents. It's better than any report card. You find out so much more about the child." She adds however, "I believe in marking. I don't see how you can teach without it." Home for Miss Stewart is Markham, where she spends every weekend with her family, and until recently she was the organist at the Markham Presbyterian Church. "I retired as the organist last June. I guess you could say I'm tearing up all my roots...no, routines. I'm tearing up all my old routines." Although she is leaving Bradford for good at the end of this school year, Miss Stewart has reassured her friends that she will be coming back often to visit.

Contains misc. items, lettered A - O

"Does Gilford need its own community hall? That's the question West Gwillimbury council members will have to ask themselves when they meet in the community on Cook's Bay in mid-April, after receiving a request for funding from the trustees of Gilford Hall.
The century-old hall has been owned by five trustees, who have passed the responsibility on to their descendants through the years. Now, they find the costs of maintaining the hall are more than what is earned from events held there.
Lou Cronan, one of the trustees, and chairman of the hall, said in a telephone interview that the overhead of running the hall including taxes, insurance, heat and caretaking are too high.
He was reluctant to say how much of a grant the trustees would need to maintain the hall each year, but said at least several thousand dollars is needed.
"The community has changed," Mr. Cronan said. "There used to be a lot of dances (to raise money)...there's not as much happening as in the past."
A letter requesting support was received by council at its March 17 meeting, and was referred to the finance committee, with instructions that a report be ready for the April 21 council meeting, to be held at the Gilford Hall.
The township has given grants to the hall in the past, and the Gilford Lions Club has made contributions. The Lions Club, Women's Institute and Horticultural Society use the hall regularly, contributing revenue, Mr. Cronan said.
Councillor Ron Simpson told council he had checked the assessment role to see if any adjustment could be made to the hall's taxes. He said at one time taxes had not been paid on the hall for 12 years, because it was assumed the township owned the land and building.
Mr. Simpson said the township could decide to support the hall, or take over ownership.
Mr. Cronan said there had been no discussion about turning the hall over to the municipality, but, "something like that will have to be done."
He said the hall is generally in good shape, with some minor repairs needed, and a fire wall to be installed around the furnace.
Each year West Gwillimbury gives a grant, of $1000 last year, toward the cost of operating the Bond Head Community Hall. The hall is owned by the township of Tecumseth, because it is on the west side of Highway 27.