Event Date : Tuesday, August 28, 1979 Event Type : Death
Description : One of the Holland Marsh pioneers, John Wist Sr. died last Tuesday (August 28) at York County Hospital in Newmarket. He was 83. Born in Yugoslavia, Mr. Wist emigrated to Canada in 1927, residing first in the west, then moving to the Leamington area. He and his wife Elizabeth worked on a sugar beet farm weeding for $12 an acre - tough work that lasted from sunup to sundown. Forty years ago, Mr. Wist and his family settled in the Holland Marsh where he cleared a five-acre parcel of land. He built a home on the King Rd. near the Fourth Concession, carrying every piece of lumber for the house the distance of one mile. Back in those days work really meant work" his son John Jr. commented. While he officially retired about 30 years ago Mr. Wist still kept busy on the family farm near the Muck Research Station. He helped with the back-breaking job of clearing the land and his son recalled one incident where his father had fallen during the clearing operations. Shrugging off the pain Mr. Wist suggested more work could be done on the drainage ditches. It was only later that he discovered he'd cracked two ribs in that fall. For the past two years Mr. Wist and his wife lived in retirement in Bradford. He became ill about one month ago. Mr. Wist leaves his wife Elizabeth Ernst and his son John Jr. He is predeceased by his son Frank. He also leaves a brother Mike of Toronto, grandsons Jim, Rick, Gary, and Paul, and great-grandchildren Kim, Teressa and Jaimie. Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home in Bradford and funeral mass was held at the Holy Martyrs of Japan Roman Catholic Church last Friday. He was buried at the Holy Martyrs Cemetery in West Gwillimbury Township."
"A Silent Auction, a supper of Penne and Spicy meatballs, with salad and garlic bread, and funnel cakes for dessert - and a hilarious look at Bradford's history, presented by the Bradford District High School Drama Club... The Gwillim Group put together a fundraiser that was filling and fun, last weekend at the high school." ...
"Last Sunday, May 27th, the town of Bradford launched 14 months of celebration, marking the 150th year since its incorporation. In fact, the "actual receiving of Royal Assent incorporating the village of Bradford... was done on May 27th, 1857 by Queen Victoria," said Bradford Sesquicentennial Committee Chair Del Crake, "ten years prior to Confederation." ..."
"Bradford Women's Institute last Wednesday celebrated 50 years "For Home and Country", the motto of the world-wide organization. Long time member Mrs. H.L. Blackwell cuts the anniversary cake fashioned in the shape of the figure 50, as Bradford W.I. President Mrs. Dan Clements looks on."
"Miraculously, the driver of this truck survived. The flat bed tractor trailer had been carrying a load of steel south on Highway 400 when just south of the Highway 88 intersection it spun around and overturned in the west ditch facing northward. The car was demolished, the seat and windshield being forced out."
"A happy Bathurst St. resident recently won $1,000 in the Wintario Lottery. Ladislaw [Walter] Dyrda, who has lived in Bradford 26 years, won the money with a ticket he purchased at Davis Pharmacy. Mr. Dyrda, an employee at Sterling Drugs in Aurora plans to use the money for a trip to his native Czechoslovakia next summer. "It is the first time I have ever won anything," the happy winner said. Above, Mr. Dyrda and Ross David hold a copy of the check for $1,000."
Children who read thirty-five books or more in the Bradford Public Library's Summer Reading Program were eligible for the Grand Prize Draw. Winners, from left: Marcella Knibbe, 8, Amy Kany, 10, Cynthia Belanger, 9, Ramona Rouhani, 8, and Melanie McIlroy, 7 1/2. Chief Bookaneer Anita Sikma (in the hat) organised the program. Summer 1991.
"The most surprised winner at the Bradford District High School Commencement, Friday was Anne Saint. Only two award winners had not been announced before the ceremonies. Miss Saint won one of these awards - the Student Life Cup. It is given to the student completing Grade 12 who has made the most worthy contribution to school life. In addition to her many other activities, Anne is the Witness correspondent for the high school. A big winner at the Bradford District High School commencement last Friday was Jacqueline Kulha. She won the J.C. Wood Scholarship of $300 for the highest aggregate in six Grade 13 subjects. In addition, she took the Municipality of Bradford prize for the highest standing in Grade 13 and the science prize for the highest aggregate in tow Grade 13 sciences. Miss Kulha is seen here holding the J.C. Wood and Bradford prizes."
Event Date : Wednesday, October 14, 1908 Event Type : Marriage
Description : Rev. William George Wilson, pastor of St. Andrew's church, Guelph, and son of James Wilson, Esq., of Newton Robinson, to Miss Annie Chisholm Fraser, eldest daughter of his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, and of Mrs. Fraser. The wedding took place at the Government House, Halifax. The ceremony was performed by Rev. E.A. McCurdy, and Rev. Ross.
