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Excerpts relating to Bond Head and Bradford Libraries from Angus Mowat's journal. Mowat was the first Inspector of Public Libraries for Ontario, a position he held from 1937 - 1960.

Groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Bradford Public Library, October 24, 1987.
Left to right:
William Marks, Councillor
Sandy Hudson, Reeve & Building Cte. Member
Eleanor Sherbo, Chair, Library Board & Building Cte. Member
Louise Evans
Charles Evans, Honourary Chair, Fundraising Cte.
Dennis Roughley, Board Member & Councillor
William DePeuter, Mayor & Building Cte. Member Bruce Owen, M.P.P.

A newspaper clipping about fundraising to raise funds for a new Bradford Public Library at 100 Holland Court.

"LIBRARY FUNDRAISERS COMMITTEE honorary chairman Charles Evans looks on while Mayor Bell [Bill] dePeuter fills in the first segment on the new sign showing how much has been roused..."

Article summarizing Cpl. Reg. A.C. Wilson of the Bradford OPP detachment duties in Bradford; also includes his farewell party and information on his wife's efforts in town.

An interview specifically with Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Evans recounting their experiences with Hurricane Hazel.

BRADFORD - Life-long Bradford resident and lawyer C.T.S. "Charlie" Evans last week shed further light on the history of the old convent on Barrie St.

The convent it currently the object of a legal tussle over ownership between the town and the contractor Fred Picavet.

Mr. Evans said he recalls being told by Kate Stevenson, the daughter of 19th century Bradford lawyer John MacLean Stevenson, that her father constructed the house based on plans of a Scots castle.

A CASTLE
"I recall her telling me that at one time he had gone to Scotland and had come back with plans of a castle and that he had this house built according to that plan," Mr. Evans said.

According to his personal records, Mr. Evans noted that Mr. Stevenson had been a Master of the Masonic Lodge in Bradford in 1877, a post usually held by older men.

"So hazarding a guess I would have to say that that house would be 150 years old," he surmised.

FIRST WAR
He said that the Lukes family, who owned the Bradford flour mill in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, likely moved into the house around the beginning of the First World War.

"Dick Crake bought the Lukes' house (where the Anzil Plaza now stands) around that time and the Lukes moved into what everyone now knows as the old convent."

Mr. Evans said a check could be made in the registry office in Barrie to determine when the property was originally purchased by Mr. Stevenson.

Second part of an interview with Charlie & Brock Evans on January 10, 1991. They are interviewed by George Jackson. Anne Coffey, Joe Saint, Louise Evans and June Chambers are also present at the interview. They discuss their childhood in the area, their family/families and lives. See the Related Descriptions below for the summary.

Due to length, the audio is split into two parts (see related descriptions below for links).

Photograph of Eleanor Sherbo and C.T.S. Evans at the ground breaking ceremony in October of 1987 for the Bradford Public Library. That library finished construction in 1988. Second from right is Eleanor Sherbo.