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This collection of pins, medals, and badges, once owned by Walter Reeves, comes to us in digital format from his descendant, Bill Marks. They were collected from Walter's career as Chief of Police for the Town of Bradford, his participation as a Lacrosse player in the 1909 championship, and his St. John's Ambulance badges.

The Ontario Provincial Police began to operate in the area in the 1930s as a motorcycle patrol, working in conjunction with the Chief of Police of the Town. Walter "Gunch" Reeves assisted the first constable posted to the area, I.R. Spencer, in many of these cases. The first OPP detachment office in West Gwillimbury opened on January 1, 1949, where they worked from the second floor of the township building under Corporal D. Adair.

Walter Arthur Reeves was born in England in 1886, and moved to Bradford when he was 13 years old. He was known as a lacrosse star as he was part of Bradford's 1909 O.A.L.A. Intermediate Lacrosse champion team (medal which is included in this collection). He married Sarah "Sadie" Saint in February 1909. He was a train inspector, and was appointed Town Constable in 1929, a position which he served until his death in 1946 from a heart attack.

Event Date : Monday, December 06, 1937
Event Type : Death

Description : Passed away at the age of 84, in hospital, after suffering with illness for about a year. Had been married to his wife, Chatherine Gibbons, for 60 years. Is interred in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Bradford and the service was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Muckle.

Event Date : Friday, December 27, 1946
Event Type : Death

Description : Husband to Mary Catharine Groves, father to Melville, Norman, Eldon, Mrs. B.B. Collings (Etta), Mrs. George Stewart (Ethel) and Mrs E. Thorpe (Beatrice) died in his Bradford home. Mr and Mrs Waldruff were married 68 years and had moved to Bradford in 1901. Interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Thursday, June 23, 1949
Event Type : Death

Description : At home, in her 93rd year. Failing health for eight-ten years, which left her confined to her room for the previous two. Three sons and three daughters: Etta (Mr. B.B. Collings), Bradford; Melville G., Bradford; Norman W., Toronto; Beatrice (Mrs. Emerson Thorpe, Woodville; Ethel (Mrs. George Stewart), Bradford; and Eldon, Toronto. Sister to Mrs. Chisholm of Cleveland, Ohio (last of a family of seven). Predeceased by her husband four years previous, daughters Minnie (Mrs. C. Clappin) and Nell (Mrs. Jas. Balfour), and an infant son, George.
Born near Cornwall, Ontario. Family moved to Angus when she was young, where she met her husband, William G. Waldruff, to whom she was married for 68 years. Married in Allandale. Lived in Angus, Colwell, Barrie, and Allandale, coming to Bradford in 1901. Funeral from home by Rev. F.G. MacTavish of Bradford United Church. Interment Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Pallbearers (son-in-law, two grandsons, and three grandsons-in-law): Emerson Thorpe, Woodville; Norman E. Collings, Bradford; Orin Thorpe, Hamilton; Ken Blevins, Toronto; Gordon Crutcher, Thornhill; and Robt. Riddell, King.