Showing 47 results

Event Date : Monday, October 06, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Norman (Dodger) Collings, whose life spanned the fields of sports, farming and community involvement, died at the age of 65 Monday after a short illness in Chedoke Hospital, Hamilton. Mr. Collings was born in Bradford and educated at the local public and high school. After finishing high school, he began a professional hockey career. During that career, he played with a number of American minor league teams as well as the old New York Americans and Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He also played on a West Toronto Memorial Cup championship team. Mr. Collings was renowned locally for his athletic ability and, as well as being an accomplished hockey player, he was active in lacrosse, curling and golf. Before joining the management of Hardee Farms and Federal Diversiplex in the mid-sixties, Mr. Collings worked as a market gardener on land he owned in the Holland Marsh. In 1965 he joined Hardee Farms and in 1970 was appointed vice-president and general manager of the Bradford plant's operations. Always enthusiastic, Mr. Collings also involved himself deeply in the community. He was a member and past president of the Bradford Lions Club and an Elder in the United Church. He served as the town's volunteer fire chief, succeeding his father who had held the post before him. For a number of years, Mr. Collings was a member of the Bradford Village Council and was a former member and chairman of the Bradford and District Community Centre Board. His works in the community brought Mr. Collings the respect and esteem of the community at large. While active in his community, Mr. Collings was an unassuming man. He was known to most people by the nickname Dodger, which he picked up during his sports career. Mr. Collings is survived by his wife for more than 40 years, Jean; his son, Tom, now a county engineer in Stratford; his daughter Mary Jane Buyers, now living in Melbourne, Australia, and seven grandsons. Mr. Collings is resting in the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home in Bradford. Funeral services will be held at the Bradford United Church Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date : Sunday, December 27, 1936
Event Type : Death

Description : One of Bradford's oldest businessmen, Mr. Crake died in Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, at the age of 79. He was the first Chevrolet dealer in the area. Funeral service at his late residence, Bradford, on Dec. 29th. Service in the United Church. Interment in Aurora Cemetery.

Event Date : Wednesday, September 25, 1946
Event Type : Death

Description : Wife of J.E. Ted Culbert, mother to Mary, 7 and daughter of Mr and Mrs WIlliam M. Kneeshaw died in Hamilton at 38 after a 2 year illness. She was born in Gilford and taught school in Cherry Creek before marrying in 1934. Interment in the United Church Cemetery, Bond Head.

Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News
February 15, 1984

W. Earl Rowe, veteran of federal politics and former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, died yesterday of a heart attack at his farm, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Toronto. He was 89.

A lover of both politics and horses, Mr. Rowe spent 35 years as a Progressive Conservative member at both provincial and federal levels before being named lieutenant-governor in 1963, a post he held for five years.

His only defeat at the polls came in 1937, when he waged an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the Ontario premiership from Liberal Mitchell Hepburn. Shortly afterwards, he returned to federal politics.

Born in Iowa of Ontario parents, Mr. Rowe began his political career in 1919, when he was elected reeve of Gwillimbury Township.

He next won a provincial seat in the riding of South Simcoe in 1923 and two years later won the federal seat of Dufferin-Simcoe. He held the seat for 38 years with the only interruption being his try for the Ontario premiership.

Mr. Rowe was the youngest member in the cabinet of R.B. Bennett, serving briefly in 1935 as a minister without portfolio in the short-lived government. he resigned his federal seat and returned to provincial politics when the government was defeated in November of that year.

He remembered Bennett as "probably the most knowledgeable and least appreciated prime minister because of the very difficult time he went through."

Mr. Rowe was provincial Tory leader from 1936 to 1938, but his failure to win a seat in the 1937 election, and reported dissension in party ranks, sent him back to Ottawa.

He ran federally for Dufferin-Simcoe again in 1940, and was reelected six times before leaving federal politics in 1963 to become lieutenant-governor, a position he held for five years.

Mr. Rowe and his late wife, Teva, raised horses.

Event Date : Thursday, February 18, 1943
Event Type : Death

Description : Wife to Mr. John J. Depew and mother to Mrs. David Smith (Georgina), Oswald and Eddie died in her home. Rev. J. McKenzie conducted the services.

Event Date : Thursday, April 10, 1902
Event Type : Death

Description : "Age: 64th year. Born in Bradford on December 12, 1838, as the second, but oldest living son of Thomas and Jane Driffill. His father, Thomas, had come to Bradford before it was a town, and was first married in 1830. His first wife died, and he remarried, and had eight children. Only four survive: Mrs. Jeffs, Bond Head; James Driffill, Toronto; Mrs. T.S. Graham, Bradford; Miss C.E. Driffill, Newmarket. Joseph was married in May 1869 to Margaret E. Clinkenbroomer, daughter of Joseph Clinkenbroomer, then of Bradford. They had four children, of whom Alfred and Edna survive. Arthur died in 1894 at age 24 (or in 1895 at age 25), and Louisa in 1898, at age 23. Joseph partnered with his brother James and ran a hardware store on the corner of Holland and Simcoe Street. Interred in Mount Pleasant cemetery."

This photo of Audrey Evans, wife of Art Evans, Bradford's first Mayor and MPP, appeared in the Bradford Witness along with the announcement of her death after a sudden and serious illness.

Event Date : Sunday, January 09, 1944
Event Type : Death

Description : At his home, "Maple Farm," Bradford, Ont., on Sunday, January 9, 1944, William George Faris, in his 80th year, beloved husband to Bertha Strong, and dear father to Gordon, Brampton, Lt. Keith, overseas, and Murray at home; and dear brother of Kate, Toronto. The funeral service was held from his home on Tuesday, January 11, at 2:30 p.m., with interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Bradford.

Event Date: January 9, 1944
Event type: Death

Description: William George Faris, in his 80th year.

Event Date : Monday, August 24, 1942
Event Type : Death
Community : Alliston

Description : John Fieldsend, a native of West Gwillimbury, suffered a stroke and died at Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston. He was a member of St. John's Anglican Church in Cookstown. Interment at St. John's Cemetery in Cookstown.