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Event Date : Saturday, July 27, 1957
Event Type : Death

Description : The end came suddenly for Bradford's veteran, and well-known townsman, Benjamin Briton (B. B.) Collings, last Saturday morning. During the past year Mr. Collings had shown some signs of his advanced years, but the firm step, the indifference to weather conditions, and the ready reply to all greetings, remained with him to the last. He had not been well for a week or more, but on Thursday he was downstairs in his home and returned to his room unaided. Friday he acknowledged he was tired and stayed in bed and on Saturday morning he was dead. He never had pain. He kept going to the last, and just quit. B. B. Collings was looking forward to the Centennial celebration and meeting old friends, and to many who are returning, Bradford has lost one of the interests for them, in his passing. Few will disagree that he was the most colourful character in Bradford. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He had a greeting for everyone, a greeting which seldom was particularly complimentary, but because it was B. B. Collings' remark, it was accepted with a laugh. Few days passed that those whose duties caused them to be about the street, did not have a few words with B. B.
"Mr. Collings was born in Bradford on August 9, 1876 the youngest member of a family of sixteen. From childhood days he was working. He told stories of the days when Amsterdam was a thriving village with its mills and he was an errand boy down there. The Collings family was associated with the Holland Marsh and did a profitable business in cutting marsh hay and selling this hay for packing and mattress making. B. B. decided that if this hay was worth Toronto mattress makers transporting it to Toronto he better get into the business. In the 1890's he went to Toronto and learned the trade and came back to Bradford and opened a little mattress making factory here where he employed some of the lacrosse players of the day. Today it is common practice for sport enthusiasts to give employment to star players but B. B. Collings began that nearly 60 years ago. He then went into the furniture and undertaking business taking a course in embalming. Then back to the marsh hay business and commercial fishing and his final business venture was the draining of what was named the Colbar Marsh area a big portion of which is now Federal Farms' gardens and in this he was singularly successful. This last project was accomplished after he was in his seventies.Mr. Collings and his men were recognized in the Lake Simcoe district as an able life-saving crew. Their business as commercial fishermen took them to all parts of the lake and the river and they were familiar with the water. Few accidents or tragedies have occured on the river or lake to which Mr. Collings and his men were not called to lend their help and they have many rescues to their credit.Mr. Collings was always keenly interested in sport particularly lacrosse and had served in official capacity on various lacrosse clubs. But few sporting events occurred in Bradford throughout the years which he did not attend whether hockey ball or lacrosse.Mr. Collings served on the Bradford Public Utilities Commission for several years and also on Bradford Board of Education.In September 1902 Mr. Collings married Etta May Waldruff of Bradford who survives him with their family of two daughters and one son namely Bernice (Mrs. Gordon Crutcher) of Thornhill; Kathleen (Mrs. Ken Blevins) of Toronto and Norman E. of Bradford. Five grandchildren also survive: Gordon Stephen and Tony Crutcher Tom Collings and Mary Jane Collings. Of the family of sixteen only two survive Dan Collings of Bradford and Libby (Mrs. Selby) of Eston Saskatchewan.The funeral was held from Bradford United Church yesterday afternoon. The services were taken by Rev. F. G. MacTavish assisted by Rev. H. P. Maitland of the Presbyterian Church and Rev. H. G. Blake of Toronto. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The pallbearers were C. T. S. Evans, A. L. Veale, Fred Collings, Roy Collings, Phil Latchman and James R. Webb."

"T.E. Bell (Pres.); W. Sutton (trainer); E. Gapp (Capt., D.); E. Armstrong (C.); E. James (C.); G. Lang (O.H.); M. Campbell (O.H.); R. Wilson (Mascot); B. Stoddart (D.); J. Webb (R.); W. Mulliss (I.H.); B. Cavallo (G.); D. Wilson (I.H.); S. Gapp (R.); J. Church (O.H.); K. Seim (R.); W. Reeves (Coach); C. Evans (Sec. Treas.)

Bradford Box Lacrosse Club, Champions Tri-County Box Lacrosse Associations, McCarthy Cup, Spring 1932

Rickard Photo No. 133-B Panoramic Camera, 321 St. George St. Toronto"

"Lavish was the praise Monday night as approximately 200 Bradford residents gathered at the community centre to pay tribute to nine firefighters who have each given more than 30 years of service to the town..."

"Two weeks ago these columns reported on procedures required to convert Bradford's Association Library into a Public Library, according to advice from Mr. Mowat, Director of Public LIbraries for Ontario, at a meeting held here. Upon request from a publicly called meeting a Council can change the status of a library without a vote, but, if Council does not see fit to do this, a petition requesting the transfer from association to public library status, signed by 30 municipal voters, demands that a vote be taken at an early date. ..."

"The Bradford Public Library officially opened their new premises at 100 Holland Court on Sunday, November 6, 1988. On hand to officiate over the "ribbon cutting ceremony" was Mayor Bill dePeuter, Librarian Adrienne Price and Honorary Chairman, Mr. Charlie Evans.
The unexpectedly large crowd presented a few problems, no one organizing the event had anticipated. Mrs. Eleanor Sherbo, Chairperson of the Library Board wishes to extend her apologues to those present who could not hear the ceremonies. Apparently, the cord became dislodged from the corridor speakers.
Following the official ceremonies, a reception was held in the "Compton room", a room dedicated to Marilyn & Gord Compton on behalf of the Library Board in consideration of their very substantial monetary donation."

From the reverse of picture:
"On September 28, 1958, an historical plaque commemorating Sir William Mulock was unveiled in the village of Bond Head, Simcoe County. This plaque is one of a series being erected throughout the province by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario. Shown standing around the plaque, left to right, are Mr. Herbert Hughes, Councillor of West Gwillimbury; Mr. C.T.S. Evans, Q.C.; Mr. Arthur Evans, warden of Simcoe County; Mr. Percy Selby, Reeve of West Gwillimbury Township; the Rev. C.R.P. Hearn who dedicated the plaque; Mr. William T. Mulock, great-great-grandson of Sir William; the Hon. W. Earl Rowe, M.P.; Prof. T.F. McIlwraith, a member of the Historic Sites Board; Mr. Thomas H. Mulock, great-grandson of Sir William; Mr. George Lisk, Reeve of Tecumseth Township; and Mr. Murray Mills, Chairman of the Tourist and Industrial Association of Simcoe County."

From the back of the photograph:
"On Saturday, June 5, 1976, and historical plaque commemorating the "Dutch Settlement of Holland Marsh" was unveiled at the Old Schoolhouse in the village of Ansnorveldt. This plaque was erected by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, an agency within the Ministry of Culture and Recreation.
Shown from left to right following the unveiling ceremony are: Mr. Mat Valk, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture Muck Research Station, Bradford; Professor William Ormsby, representative of the Ontario Heritage Foundation; Mr. G.E. Wright, York region Municipality Chairman; Mr. Sinclair Stevens, M.P. (York-Simcoe); His Worship Tale Everhuis, Burgomaster of the Town of Nieuwe Pekela, the Netherlands; Mr. Charles T.S. Evans, long-time legal advisor to the Holland Marsh community; Mrs. Margaret Britnell, Head of the King Township Council; Mrs. and Mr. M. Van Dyken, two of the original Dutch settlers; Mr. William Hodgson, M.P.P. (York-North); the Reverend Max J. Lise; Mr. John Van Dyk, another original settler; Mr. Walter Horlings, a prominent resident of the Marsh; and Mr. John Boneschansker, President of the Senior Citizens' Club."

Two articles on the Historic day for the Holland Marsh and Village of Bradford:

"According to A.H. Wilford, publisher of Transport News, the plans for "Bradford Story," to-morrow, November 4, near completion and success. Marsh gardeners, business men, and highland farmers - everybody who calls Bradford their shopping centre, is invited to join in this big parade to Toronto and thus advertise their home town." ...

Also an invitation from Reeve Charles T.S. Evans to attend the same event.

"After Thursday last it surely can be agreed that there never was a truer statement than "I love a parade." Wednesday evening the average citizen about town figured that Thursday's plans were going to "flop" - no one seemed to know much about them and we who had announced these plans on information given us began to have that peculiar sensation, familiar to most people in the newspaper business of "having stuck our necks out." However, we'll have more faith the next time if George Carson is left in charge of local organization." ...

"Among the distinguished guests who visited here for the celebration last Thursday, and spoke at noon-hour, were Hon. Earl Rowe, M.P.; Geo. G. Johnston, M.P.P.; J. Smith, M.P.; Col. Mulock; Mr. T. Strothers, special agricultural representative, head office, Canadian Bank of Commerce; Mr. Hymas, C.N.R. property man; Controller Innis, Toronto; A.H. Wilford, and Reeves C.T.S. Evans and V. Turner of Bradford and West Gwillimbury. Mr. George Horlings, vice-president and general manager of Holland River Gardens Co. Ltd extended an invitation to visit that plant.
The work of the marsh pioneers was fittingly mentioned by several of the speakers and a minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Prof. W.H. Day."