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Gordon Compton Simcoe County
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10 and 12 Holland Street West - Compton's IGA

The mid-block building located at 10 and 12 Holland St. West was built in the Ontario Vernacular style around 1872-1899. The two-storey, commercial, detached ‘row’ building had a narrow rectangular plan with an asymmetrical organization. ‘Main street’ frontage with a typical storefront façade was located at the street line. The plain façade was characterized by a high, flat, ‘boomtown’ façade and cornice with brick dentils. The two bay-façade each had its own entrance and storefront. Existing doors and storefronts are not original. The original, large, second-floor windows (characterized by segmented arch openings and concrete sills) have been partially bricked in, but are still visible from the brick voussoirs. The building has masonry construction with brick cladding and a flat, built-up tar and gravel roof. (1, 3)
The west side of the building (10 Holland St. West and the location of Pizzaville in this 1995 photo) was once the site of a drugstore run by W.L. "Billie" Campbell. Fred Cook helped him for a number of years. Billie’s son, Lou, and druggist Clarence Ritchie took over the business. Eventually Clarence Ritchie ran it on his own before he retired. Fred McKay sold phonographs on the upper floor and there was a pool room run by James Ferguson. The Salvation Army held services here in the 1930’s. (1, 2)
Sutherland’s Grocery Store was once found at 12 Holland St. West (site of Karen’s and Tina’s Flowers in this 1995 photo). Alec Sutherland was a baker. He had a bakeshop on the south side of Simcoe St. that was run for many years by his daughter Jessie and sister Mrs. Bessie Ryan (and her daughter Betty). They eventually retired and moved to St. Catherine’s. There were living quarters upstairs. William Compton and his wife bought the store and ran it as an IGA grocery store. Gord and Marilyn Compton later took over the store. They built a new store on John St. (where Frank Kilkenny’s house had been). The Comptons’ store eventually moved to what was known as the IGA plaza (located at the corner of Collings Ave. and Holland St. West). As of 2014, 12 Holland St. West is the site of The Holland Bloom florist shop. (1, 2)

George Jackson

Compton IGA Food Market

Caption under photograph: "Mr. Wm. Compton and son, Gordon, in front of their fine new I.G.A. Food Market, which opens for business next Wednesday, August 17."
Related article contains description of the Compton business.

Bradford Witness

Compton, Gordon W. obituary

Event Date : Saturday, October 12, 1996
Event Type : Death

Description : At Toronto General Hospital with his family by his side, in his 64th year. Owner-Operator of Bradford I.G.A. for over 50 years. Husband and best friend of Marilyn (Ritchie). Father and mentor of Dianne and her husband Tim Haddock, Dave Compton and his wife Karen. Papa of Sam and Lexi Haddock, Danna and Andrea Compton. Brother of Joan Pond of Jordan Station and Norma Duffy of Palgrave, and friend to many. Visitation and funeral service at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Bradford, followed by cremation. Masonic service under the auspices of Simcoe Lodge A.F. & A.M., No. 79 Bradford. Donations to the Rotary Club of Bradford or to the Bradford Library would be appreciated.

Toronto Star

Compton, Gordon William & Ritchie, Marilyn Marie

Event Date : Wednesday, February 19, 1958
Event Type : Marriage

Description : Marilyn Marie, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Milton Ritchie of Bradford, to Gordon William Compton, only son of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Compton of Bradford. The wedding took place in Bradford Presbyterian Church. Rev. E. C. McLarnon of Toronto, and formerly of Bradford, officiated. The bride had four attendants. Mrs. Robert Miller of Newmarket was matron of honour, the bridesmaids were Mrs. Keith Collings of Cayuga and Miss Margaret McInnes of Toronto, and little Miss Donna Glassford, niece of the bride, was flower girl. The groomsman was Mr. Robert Hanna of Toronto and the ushers were Mr. Robert Veale of Toronto and Mr. Keith Collings of Cayuga. Mr. and Mrs. Compton will reside in Bradford.

Bradford Witness

Compton, W. F. obituary

Event Date : Wednesday, March 29, 1967
Event Type : Death

Description : Death came with startling suddenness last Wednesday evening to one of Bradford's prominent business men, when Mr. William Francis Compton died at his home here. Mr. Compton had been at his place of business, Compton's IGA Groceteria, that day and came home around 6 p.m. He told Mrs. Compton that he was going to have a bath before having his dinner. Later he was found dead in the bathroom by his wife. Death is attributed to a blood clot reaching his heart.
Born in Morell, P.E.I., 67 years ago, Mr. Compton spent his early years in that province, going to U.S.A. in 1922, where he joined the A & P Stores Ltd. He returned in May, 1928, when A & P opened stores in Canada, and continued with that firm until coming to Bradford in 1944, when he purchased the long-established Sutherland's Grocery, operating the business during the first few years as Compton's Groceteria. In 1951 he joined Oshawa Wholesale as a charter member of the IGA in Canada. He continued to operate the business in the old stand until last year, when the beautiful new Compton's IGA was opened on John Street West. He was justly very proud of this fine new store, which was really the realization of a long anticipated plan. A good business man, exceptionally well trained in the food marketing business, Mr. Compton succeeded in his private business and also found time to devote energy to his municipality. He had served both as councillor and reeve of Bradford, in the years before the municipality gained town status, and had also served as president of Bradford Lions Club. Mr. Compton was married at Laggan, Ontario, in September, 1928, to Normanda MacNeil, who survives him with their family of two daughters, Joan (Mrs. K. L. Pond), Ottawa; Norma (Mrs. R. D. Duffy), Toronto; Gordon William, Bradford; sisters and brother, Esther (Mrs. V. H. Dockendorf), Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Frances (Mrs. A. R. Graham), Mussoorile, India; Lydia (deceased); Robbins, Morell, P.E.I. and Elizabeth (Mrs. W. H. Reich), Port Washington, N.Y.; and five grandchildren, who were the delight of his life, Dianne and David Compton and Janet, Allison and Christine Pond.
The funeral was held on Saturday, April 1, from his church, Bradford United, with Rev. D. J. Lute conducting the services. Temporary entombment was in the vault, with interment to be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were Keith Collings, Robert Hanna, Robert Veale Jr., Joseph Alebeck, Wallace Holmes and George Allan.The flower bearers were James Patton, Harold Newns, Charles Davidson, Ronald James and Lester Woolven.

Bradford Witness

Dignitaries' Float

Dignitaries' float in the Bradford Centennial Parade. Decorations on car appear to be gladioli and carrot tops.

Occupants of car (clockwise from driver): Gordon Compton, unknown, unknown, Art Evans, unknown, unknown.

Holland Court opening

"The Bradford Public Library officially opened their new premises at 100 Holland Court on Sunday, November 6, 1988. On hand to officiate over the "ribbon cutting ceremony" was Mayor Bill dePeuter, Librarian Adrienne Price and Honorary Chairman, Mr. Charlie Evans.
The unexpectedly large crowd presented a few problems, no one organizing the event had anticipated. Mrs. Eleanor Sherbo, Chairperson of the Library Board wishes to extend her apologues to those present who could not hear the ceremonies. Apparently, the cord became dislodged from the corridor speakers.
Following the official ceremonies, a reception was held in the "Compton room", a room dedicated to Marilyn & Gord Compton on behalf of the Library Board in consideration of their very substantial monetary donation."

Bradford Gazette

Old Fire Hall on Barrie Street

Bradford fire hall with many volunteers. Volunteers were the only source of fire fighters in those days.
From left to right: Roy Storey, Ted Gapp, Roy Saint, Bill Beekink, Gord Church, Jim Church, George Allan, Jim Everitt, Gord Compton, Orville Hand, Harold "Butch" Boyd, Chuck Woodcock.

Bill Marks

Pond, Kenneth Lawrence & Compton, Joan Frances

Event Date : Friday, August 19, 1955
Event Type : Marriage

Description : Joan Frances, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William F. Compton of Bradford, to Kenneth Lawrence Pond of Toronto, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Pond of Simcoe, Ont. The wedding took place at Bradford United Church. Rev. F. G. MacTavish officiated. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Norma Compton, as maid of honour, and Misses Marilyn Ritchie of Bradford and Shirley-Ann Deyell of North Bay, as bridesmaids. Mr. Murray Pond of Simcoe was his brother's groomsman and the ushers were the bride's brother, Mr. Gordon Compton, of Bradford, and the groom's brother-in-law, Mr. Robert Crofoot of Toronto. Mr. and Mrs. Pond, both of whom are graduates from Toronto University with the degree of B.A., will reside at 100 Sheppard Ave. E., Willowdale.

Bradford Witness

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