Many businesses have used the flat-roofed structure located at 29 Barrie Street. It was once the home of a farm machinery business run by Reuben Tindall. When he retired, he sold the business to Dick Crake. Dick, who sold machinery and 28 Chevrolet cars, was a bachelor who did not drive. Allen Ceeiry(?) was his chauffeur. Dick had one of the first radios in town and his shop was a popular hangout for farmers and teenage boys who wanted to listen to hockey games. Dick ran the business until he retired. Then John Morden (from Kirkland Lake) started a body, fender, and paint shop at this location which he ran until his death. A businessman from Bond Head ran a blacksmith shop here for a period of time after WWII. (1, 2)
The building located at 15 Holland St. East was bought by Harold Boyd many years ago. He ran a pool room on the ground floor on the west side. He added a second floor above the pool room for living quarters. Jack Pong owned a restaurant on the east side of the building in the 1930’s. (1, 2) The two-storey, brick and cement building located at 19 Holland St. East was owned at one time by George Simpkins. He ran a plumbing, heating, electrical, and eavestroughing company upstairs. There was a show room downstairs and the east side was a workshop. George and his family lived on Moore St. across from Joseph Street. Ethel Gapp was his bookkeeper, Ted Gapp was his electrician, and George Manton did the heating work. They drove for miles around the country in a Model T truck. Harry Barron bought the business in the 1930’s and kept the same workmen. Then the business was moved to the southwest corner of Holland and Simcoe Streets. (1, 2)
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.
"Gordon Compton, who owns the Bradford IGA, was born in London, Ontario, where his father ran the local A and P store. Gord's family moved around quite a bit from the time he was born in 1933, until they settled in Bradford. His father owned the old IGA store, now the site of 'Flowers by Tina.' After graduating from high school, Gord studied for a year at the School of Mines in Haileybury, Ontario, but gave up his studies and returned to help out in the family business when his father became ill. He eventually took over the business and saw IGA move into its present home in 1966."
"Mrs. Rose McEvoy, owner and manager of Bradford's Queen's Hotel, is generous - from her whole heart. She is an outgoing, amiable person with a great feel for the needs of people. Mrs. McEvoy has been in the hotel business since 1940s. Her late husband Frank was already in the business when she met him. Later, Mr. McEvoy opened the Jolly Miller as a hotel, and then along with his brother bought the Queen's Hotel in Bradford in 1942."
"Persons dropping in at the new West End Fashions store in the Anzil Plaza will have a warm smile and a cup of coffee waiting for them from Bette Hare. Mrs. Hare opened the store primarily to meet people. "I love meeting people," she said, "and you just don't meet people being at home, so I asked Len about buying the store and he said, 'Why don't you'" Len and Bette had operated a radio and television appliance store in town for 18 years, and after they finally sold out this year, Mrs. Hare found staying at home very boring. Operating her own store has been very exciting, and she doesn't mind the hard work."
"Chicken thieves got away with between 39 and 40 fowl from the barn of Thomas Stewart, 10th line, West Gwillimbury. The pilferers had evidently used a car or light truck in their night prowling, as the marks of tires were plainly visible on the side of the road. It was thought they made their way along a gulley running from the vicinity of the car through a field to the back of the barn. The sound of a fire alarm bell for the first time in many months cause excitement in the town. It was soon discovered, however, that a representative of the Fire Underwriters Association was in town on one of his periodic visits and had put in a fire alarm, calling out the brigade for a test run. The inspector was reported to have been satisfied with the prompt and business-like response."
"Eighty years old and almost blind, Alfred Tout of Newmarket is launching a business that he hopes will bring him enough money to buy a house. Alfred has turned his life-long hobby, weaving bamboo furniture, into a full-time job so he can get out of the senior citizens' apartment he and his wife moved into a few years ago. "You can't do anything there (at the seniors' home). You can't hammer, own a dog or cat or anything. Some people might like to sit around and do nothing, but not me." Alfred used to have a workshop in his Bradford home before he moved to Newmarket. He misses the freedom of having his own house..."
"It was up, up and away at Bak's Market on Wednesday, August 21 when the windmill on top of the market was completed. The job of lifting the blades up to the steel stand took only minutes after workmen finished putting the finishing touches on them. (right) The cost of the whole windmill is roughly $15,000 according to proprietor Casey Bak. The blades and shaft alone weigh two tons and will turn at one and a half revolutions per minute when the drive motor is installed."
"It was up, up and away at Bak's Market on Wednesday, August 21 when the windmill on top of the market was completed. The job of lifting the blades up to the steel stand took only minutes after workmen finished putting the finishing touches on them. (right) The cost of the whole windmill is roughly $15,000 according to proprietor Casey Bak. The blades and shaft alone weigh two tons and will turn at one and a half revolutions per minute when the drive motor is installed."
