Showing 25 results

"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..."

"The second meeting of Bradford Council in February was held in the Council Chamber last Thursday afternoon with all members in attendance, namely, Reeve Evans and Councillors Coffey, Davey, Fallis and Taylor.
Mr. Fred Cook, representing the Public Library Board, was present and informed that a meeting of the Library Board was held some weeks ago, at which time it was found that the Board was not properly constituted. ..."

"The Bradford fire department has a new fire chief to fill retiring Chief Ted Gapp's place.
The 16-member volunteer department voted Monday night to recommend that council appoint Deputy Chief Harold Boyd as new head of the department.
Mr. Boyd, who has served on the department since 1943, was the members' unanimous choice for chief.
Boyd became deputy chief in the late 1940's shortly after he joined the volunteer brigade. He also held the secretary-treasurers' post under Chief Dodger Collings.
The new chief first came to Bradford in 1937. He was born in Newmarket.
For the last two years, he has been semi-retired and he told The Witness that he will devote much of his time to the department and his new post.
In addition to electing a new chief, the volunteers elected Ed Bulpit as the new deputy chief.
Other officers elected Monday night were: Bev Everitt, secretary; Jim Church, treasurer; Ron Bannerman, Laurence McKnight and George Lowe, captains.
Chief elect Boyd was scheduled to appear before council Tuesday afternoon to receive his official appointment.
Boyd will take over the job Chief Ted Gapp is leaving this month after 35 years as the department's head man."

"A number of friends were on hand last Sunday afternoon to help Edward (Ted) gapp and Audrey Gapp celebrate 40 years of marriage.
A reception was held at the Bradford firehall for the Gapp's. It was a fitting location because Mr. Gapp has been the chief of the town's volunteer fire department for many years.
The Gapp's were married on October 2, 1935 and have spent their entire married life in Bradford. In addition to his involvement with the fire department, Mr. gapp works as caretaker of the town hall.
Mr. gapp has lived in Bradford since he came to Canada at the age of seven with his parents. He was born and lived his early years in England.
The guests enjoyed tea and coffee with the Gapp's. The head table was decorated with a beautiful flower arrangement.
As chief of the fire department, Mr. Gapp has seen the addition of more equipment and particularly a new pumper truck earlier this year. The truck was provided by West Gwillimbury Township to permit better service to the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Gapp said the recent weather is very similar to that of 40 years ago. "Our wedding day was much like today," Mr. Gapp said Sunday. "It was cool and foggy in the morning but once the sun burned it off, it was a beautiful day." "

"Rybka Bros. Produce, 251 Holland Street East, Bradford, located immediately west of the C.N.R. station, was completely destroyed by fire, with its contents, late yesterday afternoon." ...

This building is located at 98 Essa Street (on property that was owned by Miss Hill many years ago). The structure later became the home of Ted Gapp. (1)

This photograph was published in the Toronto Star, and features (l-r) Ben Collings, Tom Bell and Ted Gapp. The photograph was submitted to the Star from Mrs. Gould, Newmarket, ON.

The building located at 15 Holland St. East was bought by Harold Boyd many years ago. He ran a pool room on the ground floor on the west side. He added a second floor above the pool room for living quarters. Jack Pong owned a restaurant on the east side of the building in the 1930’s. (1, 2)
The two-storey, brick and cement building located at 19 Holland St. East was owned at one time by George Simpkins. He ran a plumbing, heating, electrical, and eavestroughing company upstairs. There was a show room downstairs and the east side was a workshop. George and his family lived on Moore St. across from Joseph Street. Ethel Gapp was his bookkeeper, Ted Gapp was his electrician, and George Manton did the heating work. They drove for miles around the country in a Model T truck. Harry Barron bought the business in the 1930’s and kept the same workmen. Then the business was moved to the southwest corner of Holland and Simcoe Streets. (1, 2)

The structure located at 29 Holland St. West was vacant for many years. Howard Bowser bought and restored it as a shop with living quarters upstairs. Ted and Audrey Gapp lived here for a number of years. Helen Bantam ran a ladies’ shop downstairs and lived upstairs. She may have bought it from Bowser. At the time of this photo (1995), it was a barber shop.
The building located at 31 and 33 Holland St. West (on the northeast corner of Holland and Moore Streets) was built around 1880 in the Ontario Vernacular style. It was constructed on the site of the former Edmanson Bakery (33 Holland St. West). The bakery was the origin of the big fire on May 23, 1871 that destroyed much of downtown Bradford. E.P. Snow had a harness and saddle shop at 31 Holland St. West for many years. He lived on the north side of John Street. Later it was bought by Secondo Cavallo, who ran a shoemaking business at this location. He lived on the south side of John Street. Cavallo’s daughter (Aida) ran the business for a few years and then it was sold. Lash Davey and Bill ran a butcher shop at 33 Holland St. West for several years. They had a slaughter house on Piccadilly Hill (Simcoe St. South). James Webb, a butcher and lacrosse player, later ran his shop here. Webb was joined by his son Jim, who eventually took over the business and employed Harold Boyd. Jim originally had an ice house at the back of the property. A freezer locker was built later by Len Saint at the back. The building and business were eventually owned for many years by the Pezzanitti family.
The one-storey, commercial, semi-detached ‘row’ building has a wide, rectangular plan with an asymmetrical organization. There is “Main Street” frontage with a typical, storefront façade located at the street line. A plain façade is characterized by a high, flat, ‘boomtown’ façade with brick dentils. The two-bay façade is dominated above the storefronts by an applied, pressed- metal cornice with stone brackets at each end. Existing doors and storefronts are not original. Wide, glass, storefront windows with stone sills are also not original. The building has masonry construction with brick cladding, a stone foundation, and a flat, built-up tar and gravel roof. According to the 2000 inventory, the modest building is in good condition. (1, 2, 3)