Showing 142 results

Event Date : Saturday, July 27, 1957
Event Type : Death

Description : The end came suddenly for Bradford's veteran, and well-known townsman, Benjamin Briton (B. B.) Collings, last Saturday morning. During the past year Mr. Collings had shown some signs of his advanced years, but the firm step, the indifference to weather conditions, and the ready reply to all greetings, remained with him to the last. He had not been well for a week or more, but on Thursday he was downstairs in his home and returned to his room unaided. Friday he acknowledged he was tired and stayed in bed and on Saturday morning he was dead. He never had pain. He kept going to the last, and just quit. B. B. Collings was looking forward to the Centennial celebration and meeting old friends, and to many who are returning, Bradford has lost one of the interests for them, in his passing. Few will disagree that he was the most colourful character in Bradford. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He had a greeting for everyone, a greeting which seldom was particularly complimentary, but because it was B. B. Collings' remark, it was accepted with a laugh. Few days passed that those whose duties caused them to be about the street, did not have a few words with B. B.
"Mr. Collings was born in Bradford on August 9, 1876 the youngest member of a family of sixteen. From childhood days he was working. He told stories of the days when Amsterdam was a thriving village with its mills and he was an errand boy down there. The Collings family was associated with the Holland Marsh and did a profitable business in cutting marsh hay and selling this hay for packing and mattress making. B. B. decided that if this hay was worth Toronto mattress makers transporting it to Toronto he better get into the business. In the 1890's he went to Toronto and learned the trade and came back to Bradford and opened a little mattress making factory here where he employed some of the lacrosse players of the day. Today it is common practice for sport enthusiasts to give employment to star players but B. B. Collings began that nearly 60 years ago. He then went into the furniture and undertaking business taking a course in embalming. Then back to the marsh hay business and commercial fishing and his final business venture was the draining of what was named the Colbar Marsh area a big portion of which is now Federal Farms' gardens and in this he was singularly successful. This last project was accomplished after he was in his seventies.Mr. Collings and his men were recognized in the Lake Simcoe district as an able life-saving crew. Their business as commercial fishermen took them to all parts of the lake and the river and they were familiar with the water. Few accidents or tragedies have occured on the river or lake to which Mr. Collings and his men were not called to lend their help and they have many rescues to their credit.Mr. Collings was always keenly interested in sport particularly lacrosse and had served in official capacity on various lacrosse clubs. But few sporting events occurred in Bradford throughout the years which he did not attend whether hockey ball or lacrosse.Mr. Collings served on the Bradford Public Utilities Commission for several years and also on Bradford Board of Education.In September 1902 Mr. Collings married Etta May Waldruff of Bradford who survives him with their family of two daughters and one son namely Bernice (Mrs. Gordon Crutcher) of Thornhill; Kathleen (Mrs. Ken Blevins) of Toronto and Norman E. of Bradford. Five grandchildren also survive: Gordon Stephen and Tony Crutcher Tom Collings and Mary Jane Collings. Of the family of sixteen only two survive Dan Collings of Bradford and Libby (Mrs. Selby) of Eston Saskatchewan.The funeral was held from Bradford United Church yesterday afternoon. The services were taken by Rev. F. G. MacTavish assisted by Rev. H. P. Maitland of the Presbyterian Church and Rev. H. G. Blake of Toronto. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The pallbearers were C. T. S. Evans, A. L. Veale, Fred Collings, Roy Collings, Phil Latchman and James R. Webb."

"More than 250 well-wishers and dignitaries filled the auditorium of the Bradford and District Community Centre Sunday to honor Tom Gardner, Bradford's Citizen of the Year for 1976. Mr. Gardner, who operated a hardware store in Bradford for 56 years and represented residents on the local school board for 28 years, received gifts from the Chamber of Commerce, Mac Lewis on behalf of the Bradford Lions Club, the province of Ontario, and the congratulations of his friends and neighbors. Mayor Joe Magani paid tribute to Mr. Gardner and his wife Rita for their contribution and presented Mrs. Gardner with a bouquet of flowers in recognition of her patience and support. Councillor Bob Sturgeon congratulated Gardner on behalf of West Gwillimbury Township Council, and MPP Art Evans presented the guest of honor with a plaque from the province. On accepting a silver tray engraved with his name and honor from Gerry Barker, representing the Chamber of Commerce, Gardner acknowledged that his wife deserved the honor as much as him. The citizen of the year also appealed to those present to support the Newmarket and District Association for the Mentally Retarded which he has worked for devotedly. This year, he said, the association finds itself in need of funds. Brock Evans and Rev. Bob Chapman both reminisced about their acquaintances with Gardner."

Caption under photograph: "Mr. Wm. Compton and son, Gordon, in front of their fine new I.G.A. Food Market, which opens for business next Wednesday, August 17."
Related article contains description of the Compton business.

"The building permit 74-104 was issued to John Zima on September 11. Township building inspector, Bert Magloughlen posted a stop work order on the Simcoe Rd. building site on September 16. Workmen continued blocklaying in the face of the stop work order. Mr. Zima believes his building permit was and is valid and Mr. Magloughlen believes he has revoked the permit. A decision on who is right will probably come through the courts."

"Fred Cook, a man who for many years was a social and political influence in Bradford, died last Thursday in York County Hospital at 73. Mr. Cook was admitted to the hospital April 6 suffering from a heart attack. Funeral services were held in Trinity Anglican Church, Bradford, on Monday afternoon with the Rector, Rev. Jack House and Bishop Hunt, a lifelong friend of Mr. Cook's, conducting the service. Hundreds of friends and associates gathered in the little church on Church St. that Fred Cook served so well. Mayor Joe Magani led a delegation of members of council and the town administrative staff. Many officials representing the various surrounding municipalities also attended the special funeral service. During his 73 years, Fred Cook's life revolved around the town of his birth, Bradford."

"Bradford 'Phone Users Can Play Important Part in Changeover

Bradford telephone users can play an important part this weekend in ensuring that the change to dial service is completed smoothly.
C.E. Blosdale, Bell Telephone manager for this community, asked subscribers not to place "curiosity calls" or other unnecessary calls at or near cutover time.
The changeover will be made shortly after 3 a.m., Sunday - a time when the volume of calls being handled by the local exchange usually is light.
A few minutes before that time, operators in the manual exchange will start asking persons placing calls to hang out and try again a few minutes later, using the dial. The change is expected to take less than two minutes to complete."

"More than 100 relatives gathered at the farm of D. Arthur Evans last weekend for a family reunion. The farm which is situated on Middletown Sideroad looked like a trailer park after more than 40 people from Detroit brought their trailers and camped right on the spot. Back row [left to right]: D. Arthur Evans, Bert Sellers, Tillie Sellers, Ted Evans, Harold Evans, Norma Noble, Joe Noble, Bob Lightbody and Pearl Evans, front row [left to right]: Allan Latimer, Audrey Evans, Elizabeth Lightbody, Margaret Latimer and Frank Evans."

"Bradford telephone users this week were credited with contributing largely to the success of Sunday's cutover to dial operation, by C.E. Blosdale, Bell Telephone manager for this region." ...

Dimock's Garage was an important business in Bradford in the early 1930's when this photo was taken. Harold Iceton, who submitted the photo writes: "Mrs. Al Dimock, affectionately known as Minnie to her many friends (gave me this photo). The photo dates back to 1931 when Albert Dimock first started up business in Bradford with his young son Hedley. They were soon joined by his wife Minnie and daughter Eileen. This building has now been demolished and replaced by the Royal Bank Building.

"Among the distinguished guests who visited here for the celebration last Thursday, and spoke at noon-hour, were Hon. Earl Rowe, M.P.; Geo. G. Johnston, M.P.P.; J. Smith, M.P.; Col. Mulock; Mr. T. Strothers, special agricultural representative, head office, Canadian Bank of Commerce; Mr. Hymas, C.N.R. property man; Controller Innis, Toronto; A.H. Wilford, and Reeves C.T.S. Evans and V. Turner of Bradford and West Gwillimbury. Mr. George Horlings, vice-president and general manager of Holland River Gardens Co. Ltd extended an invitation to visit that plant.
The work of the marsh pioneers was fittingly mentioned by several of the speakers and a minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Prof. W.H. Day."