Showing 550 results

Event Date : Wednesday, November 28, 1956
Event Type : Death

Description : Though in failing health for the past several years, Mr. George C. Verkaik was only seriously ill for about ten days before his death, which occurred on Wednesday, November 28. Mr. Verkaik can surely be called the father of today's thriving village of Springdale. Twenty-two years ago, Mr. Verkaik purchased some ninety acres of land, almost all of which was on the Holland Marsh, from the late Mr. Matthew Brandon and proceeded to clear land and build a neat home on the West Gwillimbury side of the river. He brought his wife and family here from the Chatham district and as the sons of the family married and built homes of their own their little group of homes became known as the Verkaik settlement. Roads were a problem in those days and the Verkaik settlement, in relation to the rest of the then partially-settled marsh, was isolated. In those years of the 30's the only access to the Verkaik property was over the hills of the Brandon farm and across a too-long bridge suspended over the canal. But unlike most of the bigger land owners of that period Mr. Verkaik made a success of his venture, and under his guidance his family also succeeded, and together they laid the foundation for today's pretty and promising village. Mr. Verkaik was born in Haarlemmermeer, Holland, in 1883, coming to Canada and the Chatham area in 1926, where he farmed before coming to the Holland Marsh in 1934. When the sons of the family accepted responsibility for the big land acreage, Mr. Verkaik moved to Bradford where he built the pretty home now owned by Mr. N. Porter on Barrie Street, and where he and Mrs. Verkaik lived for several years. During this period he purchased the site and built the building known as the Verkaik block on Holland Street north. But Mr. and Mrs. Verkaik loved the marsh, they missed the convenient companionship of their family and friends there, and in 1950 they built a home in Springdale and returned to reside there close to seven of the nine members of their family. Surviving are his wife; five sons, namely, Jacob, George, Harry, Peter and Anthony, all of Springdale; and four daughters, Elizabeth (Mrs. Wm. Horlings) of Holland Marsh, Lena (Mrs. Harry Israels), Anne (Mrs. Stanley Mol), and Agnes (Mrs. Arthur Van Dyke), also of Springdale. A devout member of Springdale Christian Reformed Church, his funeral services were held from that church on Saturday afternoon, and were conducted by his minister, Rev. R. Wildschut, with a former minister, Rev. Vandermeer, now of Barrie, leading the graveside prayer. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were Messrs. Anthony Van Dyke, Jack Israels, Frank Janse, Anthony De Winter, Jacob Mann, and Harry Horlings.

Event Date : Saturday, May 08, 1971
Event Type : Death

Description : At York County Hospital, Newmarket on Saturday, May 8th., 1971, Anne Horlings, beloved wife of Harry Verkaik and dear mother of Gerald and Jim, both of R.R. 4, Bradford. Also survived by six grandchildren. Friends called at the Lewis Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Service was held from the Christian Reformed Church, Springdale on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date: February 28, 2019
Event Type: Death

"STODDART, VERA JANEL Peacefully passed away at Caressant Care Nursing Home, Lindsay on Thursday, February 21, 2019. Vera Stoddart (nee Fenwick) of Lindsay and formerly of Bond Head and Toronto in her 81st year. Leloved wife of Wilson for almost 59 years. Loving mom of Harry (Silvia) and Sandra (Peter) Labor. Loving grandma of Connor (Rebecca), Cavan, Harrison, Abigayle and Rebekah; Teigan and Sarah. Cherished sidter of Roy (Elaine) Fenwick. She will be dearly missed. She met life's challenges with grace, a quiet conviction, and persecerance. From her humble beginnnings as a city girl, she earned the respect of the farming community such that she became the first woman honoured as the Simcoe County Farmer of the Year (19990). She loved life on the farm, cherished her family and extended community, was a dedicated historian, and found beauty in her natural surroundings. Every day that she was able to share in the splendors of nature was another day well spent. She will be sadly missed by the countless organizations for which she volunteered. Friends may be received at Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe Rd., Bradford (1-800-209-4803) for visitation on Thursday, February 28, 2019 from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 pm. FUneral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, March 1, 2019 at 11 a.m. Interment Bond Head Cemetery. In Vera's memory, donations may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto."

Event Date : Monday, April 25, 1983
Event Type : Death

Description : In his 91st year. Retired Manager of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Resident of Bradford. Husband of the late Margarita Jacobs. Father of Kay Veale of Toronto, Shirley (Mrs. George Kydd) of Uxbridge, Robert of Ottawa, Carol (Mrs. Nelson Brandon) of Perth and predeceased by William. Also survived by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation and service at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Bradford. Interment in Cobourg Cemetery. Donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

April 18, 1987
Death

VDOVJAK, Alzbeta (Betty) -- Suddenly at York County Hospital, Newmarket on Saturday, April 18, 1987. Alzbeta Vdovjak in her 77th year, beloved wife of the late Stefan, dear mother of Anne and her husband Miloslav Masin, Olga and her husband Peter David Lee. Loving grandmother of 9 grandchildren and their spouses and 4 great grandchildren. Friends called at Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe Street, Bradford. Service was held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bradford on Monday at 4 p.m. Interment Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Monday, August 05, 1963
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Jackson's Point, Ont.

Description : Susan Van Rooyen, 15, of Bradford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Van Rooyen, Frederick Street, was drowned early Monday morning in Lake Simcoe, near the Black River, while in for a swim before breakfast with her brother, John, and a friend, Beverley Williamson, also of Bradford and about the same age. According to report, the young people were not in deep water but Susan was swept off her feet by a wave. Coroner Dr. C. S. Noble of Sutton, who has seen the same area claim three lives in as many years, said the beach area at the mouth of the Black River in Mossington's Park should be posted as dangerous. John Van Rooyen said his sister, wading in shoulder-deep water, suddenly started slipping into deeper water, screaming that something was dragging her. When he went to help her she grabbed him by the throat, and he barely managed to avoid being pulled under with her. Police believe Susan, a fair swimmer, may have been pulled off her feet by the river's undertow. Her body was found about an hour later.

Event Date : Sunday, January 19, 1992
Event Type : Death

Description : "At York County Hospital, Newmarket. Wife of the late Jack. Mother of Vennetta (Mrs. Ted Bulpit) and Leona (Mrs. Don Watson) and Josephine (Mrs. Howard Buscombe). Grandmother of Pat, Tim, Janice and Holly. Great-grandmother of Andrew, Michelle, Heather, Lisa and Leslie, and lifelong friend of Edith Morris. Visitation at the Thompson Funeral Home, Aurora. Funeral service at Trinity Anglican Church. Interment in Aurora Cemetery.*Original stored in Joe Saint Collection."

Event Date : Friday, June 22, 1900
Event Type : Death

Description : Lieut.-Col. Richard Tyrwhitt. Born in Simcoe County, on November 29, 1844. Represented South Simcoe in the Commons in the Conservative interest since February 16, 1882. Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 36th Peel Battalion in February 1886. Married Emma, daughter of the late Ven. Archdeacon Whitaker, in April 1870. Interred at St. John's cemetery, Tecumseth.

Event Date : Sunday, May 21, 1905
Event Type : Death

Description : Eldest son to the late Lieut.-Col. Tyrwhitt, M.P., for South Simcoe. Grandson of the late Venerable Archdeacon Whitaker. Nephew of Haughton Lennox, M.P., for South Simcoe. Survived by his mother (a former resident of Bradford), and wife, the daughter of Dr. C.E. Graham, of Hull (married October 1904). Died in Ottawa. Interred in the family plot in Tecumseth, near Bradford.

Event Date : Friday, October 17, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Vic Turner, veteran councillor and past reeve of West Gwillimbury, died at his home in Bradford on Friday, October 17, at age 85. Mr. Turner, whose son Art is now Reeve of Bradford, came to Canada in 1907 at the age of 16. He came alone, leaving behind his family in South Chinford, just outside London. Mr. Turner first came to Toronto, then moved up to Bradford where he worked on the Pulford family farm on the 12th Line of West Gwillimbury. Bobby Pulford, a son of the family, is now coach of the Los Angeles Rams. After taking jobs in Toronto and in the west of Canada, Mr. Turner moved back to West Gwillimbury and farmed there for many years. He married three times, his first wife being Esther Brown; his second marriage to Elizabeth Riley was in August 1921. During their long marriage, the Turners farmed locally, then moved to Bradford in 1949. The second Mrs. Turner died in 1962. In 1963, Mr. Turner married for a third time, to Irene Brown of West Gwillimbury. Mr. Turner is survived by five children: Mrs. Margaret Summerville of Guelph, Bruce Turner of Kemptville near Ottawa, Art Turner of Bradford, Doug Turner of Timmins and Mrs. Dorothy Hodgson of Thunder Bay; and by 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Mr. Turner first became involved in local politics when he became a councillor in West Gwillimbury around 1937. He stayed on council becoming reeve in 1946 and holding this position in 1947 and '48.Mr. Turner left active politics and worked for Holland River Gardens (now Hardee Farms) following this. He retired from work seven years ago. While working at Hardee, Mr. Turner was appointed to the Bradford Public Utilities Commission in 1951. Appointment to the commission was then a council decision and not an elected post. Mr. Turner's proudest achievement was opening up Simcoe Road to the marsh and pushing for a bridge to be built linking the marsh to the main Bradford area, thus making it possible for the marsh to be developed for commercial farming. While serving on the Public Utilities Commission, Mr. Turner was instrumental in the decision to buy the present PUC building on Barrie Street. Mr. Turner was also involved in the Bradford Masonic Lodge, but his main interest all his life was in the marsh and the people living and farming it. The funeral service was held at the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Simcoe St., Bradford, followed by burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Monday, October 20.