Event Date : Thursday, August 17, 1978 Event Type : Death
Description : One of Bradford's most active and well known women, Dorothy "Dode" Marks died August 17 in York County Hospital in Newmarket. She was 68. Mrs. Marks was born in the home she lived in most of her life the daughter of Walter Reeves, a Bradford police officer for 20 years, and Sadie Saint. She was educated in Bradford attending both Bradford Public School and Bradford High School after which she worked for a short time in the Stein Furniture Factory which stood on the property now occupied by Toby's Restaurant. In 1930 she married Harvey Marks and spent the next few years raising three children Noreen (Hodgson), Beverley (Sanders), and Bill. She also had seven grandchildren and one great-grandson. An active woman Mrs. Marks was a member of the Women's Institute and also enjoyed bowling tennis badminton and baseball. She worked off and on for The Witness for 25 years often working well into the night organizing subscriptions. A tireless worker she was never heard to complain according to co-workers. Mrs. Marks was a member of the community centre board from its inception in 1956 until 1974 running for no wage the concession booth. According to former board member and co-worker Joe Magani, "Dode and Ted Dow ran that thing all year and the only compensation they got was a steak dinner once a year. For almost 20 years they kept that arena out of the red and that's a fact. Our expenses for running the arena were paid by the proceeds of that booth." A descendant of Bradford's pioneer families Mrs. Marks had a thorough knowledge of the history of the area and provided The Witness with many of the historical photos used in the Yesterdays column. Many of those same photos were used in the Bradford Centennial Book of 1957. Funeral service was held Saturday August 19 in the chapel Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home. Pallbearers were James Church, Jack Church, Gordon Church, Robert Watson, Kenneth Saint, and Bill Enwright. Burial took place at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
"Council is very close to engineering a swap with local developer Michael Orsi which could save the town almost $20,000, The Witness learned this week. Mayor Joe Magani presented council with a draft agreement prepared by the developer and submitted for council's consideration. The proposed agreement calls for the town to trade three-quarters of an acre of land at the north end of Dissette Street, and to cancel a $7,500 debt in the developer's name. Mr. Orsi will, in return, undertake to pace an additional 2,000 feet of Dissette Street from Dominion Farms north."
"Newly elected Lions Club executive are left to right [front row]: Secretary Eric Hall; Second Vice President John Rutherford; First Vice President Bernie Horne; President Mac Lewis; Immediate Past President Jim Dodds; Third Vice President Gerry Van Alebeek; Treasurer George Robertson. Back row [left to right]: Director Gerry Barker; Tail Twister Joe Alebeek; Director Bill Melbourne; Lion Tamer Bill Lotto; Directors Joe Magani, Merle Woodcock and Jack Armstrong."
The one-storey house once located on the west side at 44 Drury St. had stucco cladding originally. Many years ago it was the home of Fred McKay, his wife, and son (Bruce). Fred was a retired farmer. He had noted gardens (asparagus, strawberries, raspberries) on a number of lots around town. Fred worked for Thompson Fisher in the old skating rink. He also ran the pool room and sold gramophones over the Campbell’s drugstore on Holland Street. Chris Wren and his family lived here years later. Chris was a store merchant (from Mabel) and a painter and paper hanger. The house was demolished (in the 1990’s?) to make an exit and sewer connection from Joe Magani’s grocery store to Drury Street. (1, 2)
"Bradford's 1977-78 council was sworn in at a ceremony at the community centre Monday evening. At left, new Mayor Roy Gordon accepts the gavel from retiring mayor Joe Magani. Mr. Magani said he thought the gavel was given to him personally, but found out by reading the inscription that it was donated to the town. At right, Bradford lawyer Charles Evans conducts Mayor Gordon through the oath of office. In the centre photo is the council which will serve with Mayor Gordon. Members are (from left) Councillors Rick Wright, John Zima, Zyg Fenik, and Sandy Hudson; Deputy-reeve Milt Hambly; and Reeve Ken Wood."
"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..."
Simcoe County Senior Champions Baseball Team 1953. Back Row (l-r): Howard Challis, Joe Magani, Steve Simone, Bob Fallis, Ted Gapp, Bus Carter, Jim Coutts, Cecil Williams, E. Hawman (sponsor). Front Row (l-r): Pat Poland, George Carson, Bob Veale, Leighton Giffen, Bruce Edney, Art Evans, Ken Tupling, Ross Clubine - mascot Mike Kavchak.
"The Red and White team won the Bradford and District Ladies' House League championship on Monday night, beating McKinzie Hardware 16-6 in the final game. Front: Darren MacPherson, Marlene MacPherson, Michelle Woodcock, Margaret Anne Lotto, Debbie Vink. Rear: Todd Vestby, Lina Villella, Joe Magani (sponsor), Grant Vestby, Donna Worthington, Lynn Worthington, Lois MacPherson, Marg Vink, Bill Skwarchuk, Karen McEvoy Kell, Joe Skwarchuk."
