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Thomas Wells Opens School

Thomas Wells Opens School

The new Bradford District High School was officially opened by Education Minister Thomas Wells last Tuesday in a ceremony involving dignitaries from the province, the county, and the town of Bradford.

About 400 people braved the cold and blowing snow to attend the event, highlighted by a policy statement from the education minister, a tribute to Bradford resident Tom Gardner, and a key presentation from architects Adamson Associates and contractor C.A. Smith to principal Alex Taylor.

A moment of silence was also observed for Simcoe County Board of Education superintendent of planning Syd Owens who died the previous Sunday of a heart attack.

Trustee Sam Neilly said of Mr. Owens, "He was one of the most important men in the planning and design of this school. His sudden passing leaves us saddened."

Addresses followed by MPP George McCague (Dufferin-Simcoe), West Gwillimbury Reeve John Fennell, Bradford Mayor Roy Gordon, and York-Simcoe MPP Arthur Evans who introduced Mr. Wells.

Principal Alex Taylor gave a brief history of education in the Bradford area, which began in 1852 with the opening of a grammar school in Bond Head.

After the railway was opened to Bradford in 1859, Mr. Taylor said, the growth of Bradford warranted the establishment of a school there, and the grammar school was loaded onto wagons and moved to Bradford.

He joked that it was the first portable in the county.

Another school was built in 1890 which burned two years later, and a new brick school was built in 1893, but it too was destroyed by fire in 1923.

In 1923 Bradford District High School was constructed (now the Fred C. Cook Senior Public School) which served as the high school until last year.

Bradford's 1976 citizen of the year Tom Gardner, a long-time member of the school board before his retirement, was honored by the chairman of the Simcoe County Board of Education, C.W. Brown.

Mr. Brown called Tom Gardner "Mr. Education," and described his life-long efforts on behalf of education in the country.

He then presented Mr. Gardner with a plaque naming the resource centre in the school "The T.H. Gardner Resource Centre."

Mr. Gardner received a standing ovation from the assembly, and called the tribute "the highlight of my life."

Director of Education Jack Ramsay pointed out to Mr. Wells that the pressure would soon be on for the go-ahead to an extension for the new school next year.

He laughed, "We are optimistic that there will be no delay for that since Mr. Wells is present here."

Trustee Sam Neilly told the audience that today was Mr. Ramsay's birthday, and everyone promptly broke into a rendition of Happy Birthday.

The program concluded with a guided tour of the new high school.

Bradford Witness

Thomas Wells Opens School

  • CA BWGPL 2017-02-02
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  • February 9, 1977

Bradford Witness
Volume 111, Issue 6
February 9, 1977
p.1

Bradford Witness

Notice of new Congregational Board structure

Typed notice from T. E. Evans notifying the Bradford United Church congregation of the new structure of the Church's Congregational Board, dated 22 February 1973. Includes information on sub-committees of the Board and their members.

Thomas E. Evans

MacTavish, Rev. F. G. obituary

Event Date : Friday, December 20, 1963
Event Type : Death

Description : Rev. F. G. MacTavish passed away in York County Hospital, Newmarket, on December 20, 1963, following two days of illness. He was suddenly stricken late Tuesday evening while chatting in his home and immediately lost consciousness, remaining unconscious to the last. Mr. MacTavish was born at Ripley, Ontario, and attended public and high school in that village. At the age of 18 he enlisted for military service during the First Great War and served in Canada and Siberia. Returning after the war he entered Victoria College to study for the ministry. On April 28, 1921, at Creswell, Ontario, he married Mary Annetta MacDonald of Toronto. Upon graduation from Victoria College the first church appointments given Mr. MacTavish were to missions in north-eastern Ontario, first at Wilberforce and then at Apsley. His next churches were Hallowell Circuit, Prince Edward County, then Northport and Seymour Circuit, Campbellford. Omemee and Sunderland followed before he came to Bradford on June 28, 1944, bringing with him his wife and family, his daughter Jean, and two sons, Harold and Gerald. Mr. MacTavish's interest in and knowledge of, the people of this district, those associated with his church and those without church affiliation, had grown through the years and his kindly understanding of human frailties, made him a sympathetic friend to all in trouble, and only by accident did anyone learn of the many, many services he rendered, far beyond the call of his duty as minister to the United Churches in Bradford and Holland Landing. The sick, the poor, the aged, the neglected and even those who might be regarded as rather disreputable, if they needed a minister, could depend upon Mr. MacTavish to answer their need. He was a tireless worker for the church, attending to much of its business personally. He was the instigator of the movement which resulted in the complete renovation of the church building, of which he was so proud and which he watched over personally, checking carefully after all meetings. Mr. MacTavish was a minister whose ministry only began in the pulpit and the boundaries of whose church were only limited by the needs of people. Mr. MacTavish is survived by his wife; his daughter, Miss Jean and son Harold, both of Toronto; his son Gerald and his wife, Helen, of Bradford, and three grandchildren, Jean, Marilyn and Betty, of Bradford; also three brothers, Rev. Duncan MacTavish of London, Ont., Mr. James MacTavish of Lucknow, Ont., and Mr. Alex MacTavish of Ripley, Ont., and three sisters, Mrs. H.
Street (Elizabeth) of Kincardine, Mrs. A. H. Johnston (Jean) of Stratford and Mrs. H. Black (Margaret) of Kincardine. He was predeceased by a sister, Mrs. F. Barkwell (Agnes). Mr. MacTavish was a member of Golden Rule Masonic Lodge Number 126, Campbellford, Ont., and he was padre of Bradford Legion, Branch 521. He was secretary of The Simcoe Presbytery and The Toronto Conference Settlement Committee. The very largely attended funeral was held from Bradford United Church on December 23, and was in charge of ministers of Simcoe Presbytery, namely, Rev. A. S. McCuaig, Rev. A. Smith, Rev. R. E. Webster, and Rev. H. Blake, former rector here. Pallbearers were Dr. G. L. Blackwell, Mr. T. Gardner, Mr. C. T. S. Evans, Mr. Harold Tate, Mr. Alex Stephenson and Mr. C. Brittain. Interment was in Aurora Cemetery.

Bradford Witness

Gardner, Thomas obituary

Event Date : Sunday, February 26, 1984
Event Type : Death

Description : A well-known Bradford resident died this past Sunday after suffering a heart attack following a lengthy illness.Eighty-one-year-old Thomas Gardner had been a resident of Bradford since 1918 and was chosen as the town's Citizen of the Year in 1976. Mr. Gardner was born in Newmarket and moved to Bradford with his family at the age of 16. He and his father, Herbert, opened Gardner's Hardware Store on Holland St. and supplied the needs of local residents. When his father died in 1950, Thomas continued the family business. He soon married longtime Bradford resident Rita Cook and had two sons of his own, Donald and John. Don worked with his father at the hardware store until 1962. The store was sold in 1973. Mr. Gardner sat on the Bradford Board of Education for 40 years and was chairman of the board at the time Bradford Public School was built. Other accomplishments included being a member of Bradford town council, elder and active member of the Bradford United Church and superintendent of the Church's Sunday School program for 25 years. He was also president of the Red Cross at the time of Hurricane Hazel. For 30 years, Mr. Gardner was a dedicated member of the Bradford Lions. He leaves behind his wife Rita, sons Don of Simcoe and John of Willowdale, and grandchildren Jim, Dave, Jane and Peter. Funeral service will be held today (Wednesday) at 2 p.m., at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home. Burial will take place at the Newmarket Cemetery.

Bradford Witness

Gardner, Reita obituary

Event Date : Wednesday, April 23, 1986
Event Type : Death

Description : At home in Bradford in her 87th year. Wife of the late Thomas Gardner. Mother of John and his wife Ruth of Toronto, and Donald and his wife Dorothy of Simcoe. Grandmother of Peter, Jane, David, James and his wife Linda. Sister of John and his wife Mildred of Windsor. Visitation and service at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Bradford. Interment in Newmarket Cemetery, Newmarket. In memoriam, donations to the York County Hospital Foundation or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

Toronto Star

Gardner, Herbert F. S. obituary

Event Date : Monday, January 08, 1951
Event Type : Death

Description : Died at his home, Bradford, Ont. Husband of Bertha Kirby. Father of Ada and Thomas. Rested at his home for service on January 11 at 2:00 pm. Interment in Newmarket Cemetery. Prominent businessman in Bradford. In failing health for the past several years, having suffered several serious heart attacks. At the weekend, he suffered another seizure from which he failed to rally.

Bradford Witness

Gardner, Bertha Alice Kirby obituary

Event Date : Sunday, July 20, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Died at the Bestview Lodge, Newmarket, in her 99th year. Of Bradford, beloved wife of the late H. F. S. Gardner and dear mother of Tom and the late Ada, loving grandmother of John of Toronto and Donald of Simcoe. Service was held from the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford, on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Interment Newmarket Cemetery.

Bradford Witness

Gardner, Ada Elizabeth obituary

Event Date : Friday, May 30, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : At York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Friday, May 30, 1975. Ada Gardner, beloved daughter of Bertha and the late H.F.S. Gardner, beloved sister of Tom. Friends called at the Lathangue and Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Service was held in the Chapel, Sunday, at 4:00p.m. Interment Newmarket Cemetery.

Cook, Mrs. Sarah obituary

Event Date : Thursday, November 30, 1967
Event Type : Death

Description : Bradford's oldest resident, Mrs. Sarah Caroline Cook, died recently. She would have been 95 next month. Born Sarah Mills in West Gwillimbury in 1874, she married John Gibson Cook who operated a piano and music business in Bradford in partnership with John Gilheeney. She lived on Moore Street. Mrs. Cook leaves a sister, Reita; two sons, deputy-reeve Fred Cook and Jack F. Cook of Windsor; a daughter, Mrs. Tom Gardner; two grandsons, Don Gardner, a teacher at Simcoe District High School, and Jack Gardner, a lawyer in Toronto; and four great-grandchildren. The funeral service was held at the Lewis Funeral Chapel, conducted by Rev. W. H. Warnica. Pallbearers were Jack Gardner, Don Gardner, Gordon Bateman, Robert Brown, Ruston Folliott and Edward Gapp.

Bradford Witness

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