Article of a brief history of the Bradford Library, written by its librarian, Adrienne Price. Scanned from a donation of the Bradford Today supplement to the Bradford Witness.
"The annual public meeting in connection with the Bradford Public Library will be held in the Fire Hall on Monday evening next at 8 o'clock. All who take an interest in books and reading are requested to be present."
Article from the Bradford Witness - May 31 1906 edition on H.S. Broughton, postmaster and librarian of Bradford. This edition provides many biographies and photographs of prominent citizens at the time.
This portrait is of A.N. Scarrow, and was featured alongside members of the Model School Board including Rev. F. Smith, E.P. Snow, James Bemrose, John Elliott, and Samuel Martin. Scarrow was the principal of the Public and Model Schools from 1902, and was President of the Bradford Library Board.
The structure located at 21 Holland St. West is part of what is known as the Evans Block. The building was raised and Len Saint added a cellar and a foundation. The work was done by Mac Campbell and his team of carpenters. T.W.W. Evans had the building constructed to house his law practice. The upstairs was also used for years by Dr. Ellis, a dentist. The upper floor even served as Bradford Library in the 1930s, run by Mrs. Day. At one time, the offices of Tupling Insurance were also located in this building. In 1957 a fire destroyed several buildings to the east, but this structure was spared. (1, 2)
Photograph of Ethel Day, wife of Professor W.H. Day and librarian of Bradford Public Library from 1936 - 1953. She was also the mother of Ida Day Smith, former librarian, whom she took over from in 1936. Mrs. Day was the sole librarian and worked originally a room on the second floor of T.W.W. Evans law office at 21 Holland St. West, then in the late 1940s, moved to a room above the fire hall on Barrie Street. She hand-wrote all records, and was librarian until her death on November 23, 1953.
Photograph of Ida Day Smith, daughter of Professor W.H. Day and librarian of Bradford Public Library in 1936. She was also the daughter of Ethel Day, who took over the librarianship in 1936. Ida Day was the sole librarian after Mary Brown, and worked in a second floor room of T.W.W. Evans' law office. Once she married Raymond Smith in October of 1936, the couple moved away and Ida's mother, Ethel, took over the librarianship duties.
"Mayor Joe Magani presided for the brief program at the social evening given in Bradford Public Library on Tuesday, April 11, called to honour Miss Birdie Webb, who is retiring after twelve years as librarian. On behalf of the Library Board and the town, Mr. R. Colangelo presented Miss Webb with a wrist watch, in appreciation of her fine service. Miss Webb expressed her thanks for this tribute. Simcoe County library was represented by Mrs. Cadogan of Barrie. Mrs. William Melbourne will carry on the duties of librarian here."
