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Retiring After 31 Years Brings Her Mixed Emotions
By John Slykhuis

After 31 years of teaching about 1,000 pupils at Bradford Public School, Barbara Stewart is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a thought that brings a mixture of emotions for her. One one hand is the anticipation of doing the things she has been dreaming of for years: travelling extensively in winter and relaxing at her cottage in Minden in summer. On the other hand: "I'm going to miss the children," she admits, "And the staff too. I have many good friends here." Her last class, she says, is particularly special. "I'm really enjoying this last class. This is one of the nicest classes I've ever taught." This Grade 3 class, like the one she started with in 1941, is small and close, almost like a family. She had 13 children to teach in a small one room schoolhouse in Markham Township that first year, and they represented all eight grades. Five years later, she started at the old Bradford Public School, and she has been here ever since. There are so many memories here for Miss Stewart that it is difficult for her to pick out any one, but one does stand out in her mind. Several years ago, the Lions Club of Bradford brought over a crippled girl from India, Vanita Khubchandi, to have an operation at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. While here, she attended Miss Stewart's Grade 7 class. "She came every morning in an ambulance on a stretcher. She had to lie flat on her back all the time...The children really took to her." Then the day arrived for her operation. "The biggest thrill was the day she walked back into the classroom. Oh, the children were so excited. They had a party for her." Miss Stewart still hears from her occasionally and reports that she is walking well and has just finished high school. There are other memories too: walking through snow bank in the early years only to find out when she arrives that the school was closed; teaching her favorite subject, music; and taking the girls' choir to Newmarket where it won first prize. She taught a huge 45-pupil Grade 4-5 class a few years ago ("that was the most challenging and the most rewarding"), and watched the growth of children just arrived from other countries ("It was most rewarding to see them learn the language and go on to do well"). And what about the modern school system? "Well, I approve of the new standard of reporting the progress of a child. But I would far sooner talk to the parents. It's better than any report card. You find out so much more about the child." She adds however, "I believe in marking. I don't see how you can teach without it." Home for Miss Stewart is Markham, where she spends every weekend with her family, and until recently she was the organist at the Markham Presbyterian Church. "I retired as the organist last June. I guess you could say I'm tearing up all my roots...no, routines. I'm tearing up all my old routines." Although she is leaving Bradford for good at the end of this school year, Miss Stewart has reassured her friends that she will be coming back often to visit.

"The Fisher's Corners Women's Institute plans to buy rolls and serve them at the Bradford Salad Festival in July. At the May meeting, the group discussed a bus tour to Stoney Creek on June 16. Several plan to attend a short course September 16. Happy anniversary wishes were sung for Mr. and Mrs. Ben Steers and Mr. and Mrs. Sid Gapp, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wychopen was given a cup and saucer. Mrs. Donald Couture gave a report on the area convention at Waterloo. There will be no meeting in June."

"The Bradford Lions Club went over the top in the Lions Pool project with the airplane draw last September. The club presented the balance of $50,000 to Bradford Mayor Roy Gordon at a special meeting Monday. From left, club president John Rutherford, vice-president and draw chairman Gerard Van Alebeek, Mayor Roy Gordon, draw co-chairman Jack Armstrong."

"If you've ever driven through the intersection of the 9th line and the 5th sideroad in West Gwillimbury and wondered just exactly where you were, there's no need to worry any more. On Monday the members of the Women's Institute of Fisher's Corners just west of Highway 400, saw their sign go up on the northwest corner of the intersection, simply reading "Welcome to Fisher's Corners." To most of the community's residents, the area has always been known as Fisher's Corners. Now, with a little help from the Women's Institute and Judy Rupke, who painted the sign, anyone travelling through will be reminded of where they are. A story, which dates back several years, tells of residents named Fisher living on the four corners of the intersection. Over the years, the name of Fisher's Corners caught on."

"The Bradford Lions club moved the top prize for their annual September 12 draw along Holland Street early Tuesday morning. The cessna airplane is now on view at the Red and White shopping plaza and tickets can be purchased from any Lions member. The mammoth draw also includes Cadillac and cash prizes."

"The Bradford Lions Club installed its new executive on Monday for the upcoming year. Front row, from left: Jack Armstrong, second vice-president; John Rutherford, president; Bernard Horne, past president; Gerard Van Albeek, first vice-president; Gerry Barker, third vice-president. Second row: George Jackson, director; Jim Swan, secretary; Bill Melbourne, director; Fred Dow, Lion hunter; George Fabing, assistant tail twister; Joe Vanderlinde, director; Bill Lotto, director; Bob Hardy, treasurer; Ron Coffey, Lion tamer; Ted Van Kuik, tail twister; Ron Wysinski, assistant secretary; George Robertson, director; Eric Hall, bulletin editor; and Keith Noble, director."

"Women in the community of Lefroy got together last week for an old-fashioned quilting bee. Some of them took part in the annual meeting of the South Simcoe district Women's Institute, held in Alliston."

"Alliston - South Simcoe District Women's Institute held its 75th annual meeting in Alliston last week, with 116 delegates attending from 11 branches. District president Mrs. Paul Tipping of Tottenham and secretary treasurer Mrs. Everett McVety of Bradford were in charge.

The theme, 'What's 75 Years Between Friends?' set the tone of the meeting held at St. John's United Church. Displays showing accomplishments, projects, and history of each branch were outstanding, and discussion groups led by district conveners replaced oral reports.

Visits to Simcoe Manor will not be a district project from now on but the decision to entertain there is at each branch's discretion after conferring with the manor superintendent.

Delegates voted to hold a Tweedsmuir History workshop in November, with Cookstown being a possible location.

Mrs. Gordon Mallion of Tottenham judged the log book competition of home histories and presented prizes to: first, Mrs. Russel Browning; second, Mrs. W. Ingram, both from Churchill branch; and third, Mrs. Norman Baker, Everett.

Federated Women's Institute of Ontario board members, Mrs. Don Hennessy of Duntroon, said Simcoe County leads the province in interest in log books. County books were on display at the officers' conference at the University of Waterloo in May.

After the noon luncheon, Tweedsmuir History curator Mrs. William Sutherland of Bond Head reviewed district history. The first meeting was held in Jebb's Hall, Cookstown, on July 9, 1902, with 50 in attendance. In 1906 only four attended and for some years district meetings were held in homes.

Today there are 321 active members in Simcoe South and 46 life members. A birthday cake was cut by Mrs. Joseph Hancey of Alliston, a WI member for 61 years.

Ted Whitworth, a farm safety consultant for eight counties, told delegates there are too many accidents in agriculture. He said 'farmers must recognize hazards and he placed the responsibility on 'mother' to continue to remind her family of safety practices. Farm safety booklets brought home by school children should be reviewed by the parents with the children so both will benefit, he said.'"

"Whipper Billy Watson (standing fifth from the left) attended a meeting of the Bradford Lions Club last week to thank some of the people who helped run the Snowarama which raised about $60,000 for crippled children in February. Five hundred and seventy snowmobiles were involved in the event on Lake Simcoe and 100 people helped organize it. Plaques expressing the gratitude of the Ontario Society For Crippled Children (OSCC) were handed out to representatives of nine clubs. Kneeling, left to right: Sue Brower of OSCC, Colleen Townsend of the Aurora Snowmobile Club, and Hank Lapierre of Keswick, York-Simcoe Radio Club. Standing: Bill Melbourne of Bradford, Bill Trent of Aurora, Bernard Horne, president of the Bradford Lions, Tony Townsend of Aurora, Whipper Billy, George Jackson of the Bradford Lions, Jim Derry of the Bradford Snowmobile Club, Cec Smith of the Orangeville and District Snowmobile Club, Terry Davis of Bradford, Frank Crisologo of Keswick and the Georgina Trail Riders, and Wes Styles of the York-Simcoe Radio Club."

"The Rotary Club of Bradford celebrated its 25th anniversary last week and announced the Rotary project for 1977: a rock garden with fountains at the corner of Barrie and John Streets. Referring to the expense, past president Brad Walker laughed, 'Once that's done we'll have exactly what we started with 25 years ago - nothing.' Mr. Walker is one of the charter members of the club, and he, along with Clare Ritchie, Frank Maurino, George Allan, Jim Everitt, and Jim Simone, were presented with silver plaques for their 25 years of service. Rotary district governor Norm Guild of Brampton was on hand to make the presentation. Lions Club president Bernard Horne called for closer relations between the two clubs and recalled the years of the co-operation on several major projects in Bradford."