"Peter and Anna Wenzel have a home with a difference. It's a log house dating back to 1837, and they believe it's the oldest in the area. Located on five acres of land east of Holland Landing, the house required a year's worth of work by the couple, helped by friends and relatives, to make it functional as a home. Linoleum had to be ripped off the hardwood floors, plumbing and a septic tank had to be installed, the exterior had to be re-caulked, the interior was rebuilt...and now, the Wensels have a cozy home that they won't part with. The log barn on the property has been converted to a workshop, and the Wenzels plan to build an addition to the house in future months."
"More than $1,700 in pledges was recorded at the ski and skate-a-thon Saturday, sponsored by the Gilford and District Lions Club at Ski Haven. It was estimated that Harv Speiran of Gilford was the oldest of the 100 participants. It was also he who chalked up the most money in pledges, over $300, while skiing more than 10 miles. He wouldn't reveal his age. A young bank teller, Kim Brown of Bradford, had $258 in pledges, the highest for the women. Participants came from Gilford, Lefroy, Churchill, Bradford, and surrounding districts. The even was held to raise money for the Lions camp for the deaf at Parry Sound and the camp for the Blind at Lake St. Joseph. Snow and ice conditions were not the best but they did not deter entrants from having a fun-filled afternoon. Many enjoyed making use of the facilities loaned by Ski Haven to the Lions Club."
"Mrs. Linda Carol Graham of RR 1 , Lefroy, received a bachelor of arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University at the convocation exercises held recently in Barrie. Mrs. Graham is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Barron of Bradford."
"A crowd of more than 350 people were on hand last Wednessday in Beeton for the official opening of the Simcoe Manor. The guest of honor was the Provincial Minister of Community and Social Services Rene Brunelle. His ministry paid half of the $1,750,000 cost of the addition to the manor. The rest of the cost was paid by the county. The Reeve of Tecumseth, Harry Cross officiated over the opening ceremony. The manor is located in Tecumseth near Beeton. He introduced the many people who have had a hand in bringing about the addition. He also introduced the present administrator, Ed Boynton. In his speech Mr. Brunelle mentioned that next week is senior citizen's week and suggested it should be a time to stress the positive aspects of old age. At the conclusion of his speech he received a number of presents, among them a handmade lamp. During the ceremony, a number of newspapers, including last week's Witness, were placed in the corner stone of the building. They were wrapped in plastic and sealed in a container to maintain them for posterity. Following the speeches and the ceremony the crowd was given a tour of the building and had an opportunity to see the new addition. The new wing includes a therapy room, an auditorium and a library as well as beds for 100 more patients. It brings the total number of beds to 158."
"The afternoon ladies bowling club held its closing banquet at Humberlea Inn at Nobelton on Thursday evening. Following a delicious roast beef dinner trophies and prizes were presented."
"Katie Merschilz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Merschilz, Thornton Avenue, Bradford, received her secretarial science diploma from Ryerson Polytechnical School recently. Katie is presently employed by the Minister of Government Services."
"Kathryn Louise Crossland, daughter of Waldie and Doris Crossland of Bradford, graduated from Toronto East General Hospital in conjunction with Centennial College, July 24. Kathy has accepted a position at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto."
"The Trans-Canada Pipeline-snakes its way across a field near Cookstown as workers for the gas company put sections of the line through hydro static tests. The work has been going on in the area for several works and officials say it will be finished shortly."
"The Right Honorable John Diefenbaker receives a mounted replica of a portion of the press plate used in printing his article "My First Prairie Christmas" which appears in the December Canadian Reader's Digest. Making the presentation to Mr. Diefenbaker in Ottawa are roving editor Robert Collins (left) and Digest editor Charles Magill. In the Digest article, Mr. Diefenbaker describes how his first Christmas in the prairies in 1903 reaffirmed the values he was learning day by day; the warmth of family, the loyalty of friends, the special kind of goodwill that reaches out to those less fortunate."
"Mr. and Mrs. Jim Simone of RR 2, Newmarket are the lucky winners of a trip of De Peuter Interiors of Bradford. The second annual draw was held in the De Peuter showroom October 2, and the Simones were present, along with several other people to witness as their daughter , Chris, drew the lucky ticket, out of 2,000. "It was a chance in a million," Lawrence De Peuter said later. "We had asked Chris to draw the ticket because her hand was small enough to fit easily into the drum."Jim Simone said Monday that they plan to take the trip sometime in late November. The holiday will be arranged by the Bradford Travel Agency."
