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"A Department of Highways bulletin announced the following highways closed as a result of the flood in this area: ..."

Letter regarding constructing roads and highways that afford property owners the ability to come and go from their lands, particularly if their land is part of the drainage scheme. Includes list of land owners that would be affected, 1920s.

Municipality :
Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury
Lot :
Concession :
Description : Robert Evans is Named QC

BRADFORD - When Bradford lawyer Robert Evans read through the Globe and Mail January 1, he found his name listed among about 150 lawyers chosen for appointments to Queen's counsel by the Attorney General of Ontario.

He wasn't exactly surprised by the honor, but was very pleased.

"Appointments are awarded to lawyers who have been in practice for a number of years, and I had applied for it," said Mr. Evans, with the Bradford law firm of Evans and Evans.

Perhaps one reason he wasn't amazed by the appointment is that a number of other lawyers in his family have been similarly honored.

FAMILY

Robert Evans' grandfather T.W.W. Evans started the law firm in 1894 and not only was he named to Queen's counsel (it was then King's counsel because King George V ruled Great Britain) but so were his father Charles, uncle Brock, and his brother Thomas.

Robert Evans was born in Bradford and called to the bar in 1966. Since then he's worked in the Bradford family firm doing most of the litigation work.

An active member of the Progressive Conservative party, Mr. Evans admits the appointment has political overtones, but points out that members of other political parties are also appointed to Queen's counsel.

He told the Witness his appointment was "a mark of experience and was likely considered in light of his other community affiliations.

A member of the York Region Law Association, he was president of that group for two years, and is also active in the Simcoe County Law Association.

ACHIEVEMENTS

A term as president of the Bradford Rotary Club, and another as master of the Masonic Lodge in Bradford round out his list of achievements, and one of the personal highlights he proudly points to is that he was among several businessmen chosen to represent Canada in an Australian exchange program in 1967.

His family of wife Janet, and three daughters, Heather, 6, Jackie, 5, and Pamela, 3, have welcomed other exchange students into their home in past years.

Mr. Evans said he has been proud to watch Bradford growing over the years, and is equally proud of his family's law firm.

Although there are no specific duties attendant with his appointment to Queen's counsel, a few changes will result.

"I'll have to have a new silk gown made up to wear in court, and we'll have to have new letterhead printed with Q.C. after my name," he laughed.

An article announcing the death of and paying tribute to Ron Simpson.

"St. John's Presbyterian Church was filled yesterday with people mourning the death and celebrating the life of longtime Bradford West Gwillimbury Councillor Ron Simpson...Mr. Simpson, a custom homebuilder by profession, has been a councillor since 1985 for all but one term.,,"

Municipality :
Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury
Lot :
Concession :
Description : Rotary - 30 Years of Service

The Contributions of Rotary Club have been many

By Sandy Bain

On February 22, 1952 - 30 years ago - the Bradford Rotary Club held its charter night party, with a membership of 22.

There are now 42 members in the Bradford Rotary. When they met last week at the Black Soil Restaurant, they included in their membership 16 past presidents and six charter members; George Allan, Jim Everitt, Frank Maurino, Clare Ritchie, Jim Simone and Brad Walker, who are still involved in club activities.

George Allan recalls the meetings at the Riverview Restaurant in the early 50's. Early fund-raising activities included selling peanuts, door-to-door, to raise money for the swings behind the town hall. The Rotary Club also bought bleachers for the ball park.

REMEMBERED

Deceased past presidents Jim Webb, Norman Porter, Fred Doane, Sarge Coutts and Frank Lee are fondly remembered by other long-time members.

Gord Compton recalls Sarge Coutts' humor and devotion to club projects and he remembers many friendly Rotary gatherings at the cottage of Norm Porter.

Clare Ritchie (president 1959-60) recalls Rotary's involvement in helping obtain mobile housing and supplies when the marsh was flooded during Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Brad Walker was the chairman of this committee.

Clare also remembered the Christmas party at the fairgrounds which Mrs. Kate Aiken (well-known radio broadcaster) and Robert Saunders (then cahirman of Ontario Hydro) hosted, with Rotary assistance.

Jim Simone, club president during 1958-59, recalls the celebrations that were arranged for Bradford's centennial.

PROMOTE TOWN

The Early Bird Breakfast is always a part of Rotary district conventions. In the early 60's, Bradford Rotarians made an all-out effort to promote our vegetable growing capabilities to the rest of Ontario.

Rotarians dressed in costumes symbolizing the many ethnic groups that form Bradford's cultural mosaic. Fruit and vegetable stands were set up outside the dining room of the Royal York Hotel in Toronto and copies of the Bradford Witness were given to the delegates. Dr. Steve Hecking arranged for the Canadian Opera Company to entertain at this most successful event.

1964 saw Rotarians from all over the world gather in Toronto at a Rotary International convention. Past president Gord Compton, Dennis Partridge and Bob Lynn recall the friendship that members from Bradford, Ontario started with members of the Rotary Club in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania club was entertained in Bradford during the convention, under the leadership of Gord Compton.

PRESENT FLAG

In 1966, when Bob Lynn was president, the Rotary Club of Bradford went back to Pennsylvania to present them with our new Canadian flag.

In 1966, Rotary sponsored a special performance of Carmen, by the Canadian Opera Company. It was held in the high school (now Fred C. Cook) auditorium.

1967, Expo. Everyone singing Ca-Na-Da, we love three. Remember? Past president Alf Tizzard and Grant Robinson remember participating in the parades and festivals that ushered in Canada's Centennial in Bradford.

Grant also remembers the many tired, but willing, feet that participated in the Rotary-sponsored walkathon in 1968.

In th 70's, the
Community Center was expanded. Sam Catania recalled Rotary holding house draws which helped contribute to the expansion program.

Past president Reg Harris remembered with a chuckle the snowstorm that forced the district governor to stay in town.

SALAD FESTIVAL

Jim Visser conceived the idea of Bradford's Salad Fest. Bob Evans thinks back to the large variety of salads and cold meats that became a trademark of this annual event.

In 1973-74, under the leadership of Bob Evans, Rotarians encouraged tree planting projects in residential areas of Bradford. This was also the first year of the Rotary youth exchange program.

President Rick Walker got the Rotarians to think snow in 1977 with sponsorship of the popular snowmobile races continuing as part of the winter scene in Bradford.

Past president Bas Visser recalls 1978 as being the first year of the Rotary 50-50 draw. The club was involved in sponsoring bingo in Bradford, and this was the year they brought the circus to town. Do you remember watching the elephant put up the tent?

FOREIGN AID

1978 saw Rotary finance a special police vehicle and, on an international level, the Bradford Club worked with other Rotarians to send heifers to Haiti so fresh milk could be bought locally by the island population.

Rotodale Nursery School begin in the year 1978-79, past president Sheldon Harris recalls. Grant Vestby worked with the ministry of social services and the town, to bring this special school into being. Rotarians, and interested parents, helped decorate the room.

Wayne Stinson remembers February 26, 1980, when Rotary, like many other groups, sponsored a Vietnamese family of five.

The friendships that are made during Rotary youth exchange programs do much to foster Rotary goals of world peace and understanding.

In 1980, Bradford sponsored four students. Bradford students, Cathy Lewis and Scott Tupling went to Norway and Sweden (respectively). While Eduardo De Couto of Brazil, and Tim McCurdy of Australia came to Bradford.

MANY PROJECTS

In 1981, under the leadership of Paul Travis, the Club continued to participate in a variety of community projects: meals on wheels; public and high school awards; sponsorship of Scouts and Guides; minor hockey, softball and soccer teams; Rotodale nursery school.

All of these projects are part of Rotary's commitment to Bradford. In 1981, one special project was to fence the sioccer field.

In 1982, Rotary continues to support the above projects, and other community projects, and they are hosting students from Japan and Mexico as part of the youth exchange program.

As president Peter Van Scheyndel suggested, reviewing the involvements of an organization such as the Rotary Club of Bradford is a difficult task because the strong foundation built by active members over the years has involved the club in an intricate network of service - not only to our local community, but the world community at large. This requires the skills of each individual member.

Happy 30th Anniversary Bradford Rotary Club.

Rotary History

In Evanston, Illinois, 76 years ago, a young lawyer named Paul Harris had an idea. He wanted to meet regularly with other businessmen in his community. He felt that together they could better serve the needs of their town and he felt that he would enjoy the fellowship they could offer one another.

From this idea, Rotary International evolved.

Today, there are about 19,477 Rotary Clubs and an estimated 900,500 Rotarians in 157 countries and geographical areas. Rotary is an organization of business and professional men, united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in vocations and help build good will and peace in the world.

MEET GOALS

The Rotary Club of Bradford, like Rotary clubs all over the world meet once a week to carry out these goals. The Witness asked two Rotary members why they were involved in this organization. Bob Evans was part of an international group study team of businessmen who went to Australia in February 1967, as part of a Rotary project.

Members of group study teams foster international understanding by speaking with service groups, churches and community organizations, when they return to their community. On his return, Bob became a member of the Bradford Rotary Club.

OPPORTUNITIES

He said he enjoys the opportunities for fellowship and service that Rotary provides. He enjoys the weekly meetings in Bradford or in other cities if he is travelling during the week.

Bob is especially interested in the Rotary youth exchange program. He feels it has been good for his children to have had exchange students live with them; and he feels that the program helps young people in our schools and communitites gain insight into other parts of the world.

Gord Compton also stressed his interest in the youth exchange program and the international projects that are sponsored through Rotary.

Gord enjoys the face that club meetings start and finish on time so that they can be fitted into a busy schedule.

To Gord, like that young man in Evanston, so many years ago, the friendships he has made, through meeting and working with Bradford Rotarians, have made Rotary involvement a special part of his life and a special part of the lives of all Bradford Rotarians.

Municipality :
Community : Lefroy
Lot :
Concession :
Description : Ruffetts' Celebrate 72 Years of Marriage
By Georgina Mitchell

Bill and Susan Ruffett celebrated their 72nd anniversary last week, with many friends and relatives calling in to congratulate them.

Bill is well known for his recitations and he has memorized over 100 verses since retiring at the age of 80.

He recalls the first time he recited 82 years ago at the Churchill Presbyterian Church Sunday School concert.

Bill and Susan eloped when she was 16, and he 20.

The bride, born Susan Hardy recalls taking the train from Lefroy to Gilford (where her sister lived) and then north to Barrie where she met Bill.

The couple then walked to the Collier Street Methodist Manse where they exchanged vows.

Bill remembers having only $7 in his pocket, of which $2 went to the minister.

Bill began work at the ice company in Lefroy, and worked there from 1910 to 1930.

With the advent of electric refrigerators Bill turned to carpentry and built about 200 cottages before his retirement.

He continued to build bird houses as a hobby, and still does when the weather is favorable, with his son Charlie giving him a hand.

Bill and Susan raised a family of seven children, the oldest and youngest girls, with five boys in between.

They also have 18 grandchildren ranging in age from 12 to 42, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

Event Date : Wednesday, January 17, 1951
Event Type : Death
Municipality : St. Catharines

Description : "Although not resident here during the past six years, the sudden passing of Mrs. F.C. Ryan at her home in St. Catharines on Wednesday evening last is felt as a very Personal sorrow to hundreds in this community where, during the years of her girlhood, and again more recently, she was so well known as affectionately esteemed..."

"Rybka Bros. Produce, 251 Holland Street East, Bradford, located immediately west of the C.N.R. station, was completely destroyed by fire, with its contents, late yesterday afternoon." ...

Event date: Monday, July 27, 1959
Event type: Death

Description: Mr. Dan Sadovchuk had been in York County Hospital about two months and appeared to be improving when death struck suddenly on Monday, July 27.
Bron in the Ukraine, September 23, 1888, Mr. Sadovchuk came to Canada when nineteen years old, living in Montreal until 1924. While in Montreal he married a young widow, Mrs. Stephanie Semenuk Pelowich, who had a little son Jimmy. Mr. and Mrs. Sadovchuk lived in Port Colborne and Windsor before coming to Bradford in 1932. They had one son of their own, George, who grew up and attended school in Bradford.
Mr. Sadovchuk was a gardener, and loved gardens. Everyone who knew him said he was a fine man. The serenity of his countenance bore evidence to the truth of the statement.
He is survived by his wife, of Bradford; his son, George Sadovchuk, of Toronto, his step-son, Jimmy Pelowich of Toronto; and one sister, Mrs. N. Malnachuk of Blind River, Ontario.
Rev. T.J. Dew of Mimico returned to Bradford to take the funeral services in Trinity Anglican Church, Bradford. Interment in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto.

Transcript of the interview with Joe Saint, by Miriam Swan.