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"Firefighters battle stubborn 7-hour blaze which ripped through industrial complex last Friday afternoon

On April 28, 1988 at approximately 2:20 p.m., a major fire broke out in an industrial complex on Bridge Street (Hwy. 11) in the Town of Bradford, which necessitated the closing of Hwy. 11 both northbound and southbound for a period of six hours." ...

The finishing touches being put on Bradford's new fire hall. This picture accompanied an article in the Bradford Gazette.

A newspaper clipping about fundraising to raise funds for a new Bradford Public Library at 100 Holland Court. Included in the article is a newspaper photograph of Adrienne Price (Librarian), Eleanor Sherbo ( Library Board Chairperson), Mr. Lacasse (President of Gang-Nail Canada Inc.) and Mr. Carter (Vice-President of Gang-Nail Canada Inc.).

Bradford Firehall Relocates

By Miriam King
Staff Writer

Bradford's old Fire Hall on Holland Street was so small that one of the town's five firefighting vehicles has to be parked elsewhere. Dispatch was through the Bradford Police Department, and fire trucks has to manoever their way through often heavy traffic in the center of town, whenever they were called out.

The facility was obviously inadequate for a department that was providing fire protection, not only for the rapidly growing town of Bradford, but also for about 70% of the township of West Gwillimbury, and a portion of King township. It was no surprise when Bradford Council approved the construction of a new Fire Hall.

Four companies were invited to bid on the new facility. Three of the four estimated a final cost in the area of $1.2 million, or more, depending on the architectural design.

The fourth, Inducon Design, offered a new concept called "Design Build", and a firm price of $978,000. "That's one of the main reasons we went to this kind of facility," said Ted Mendrek, Captain of the Fire Prevention Bureau, and the project manager. "I think up to this point, everyone is satisfied."

Construction on the Melbourne Drive site began in June, and is all but completed. The fire department has already moved in, only eight days behind schedule.

The new structure houses 6,000 square feet of apparatus space, and 4,000 square feet of administration offices. There is room for up to eight vehicles in the garage. Other features of the facility include male and female locker rooms, a kitchen, a 57' training and hose drying tower, and a diesel-powered generator that can provide power to the whole building in the case of an emergency.

The improvements have not been limited to the building. Any delays in response time that might have resulted when the fire department was moved to the west end of town, have been offset by the installation of Opticom lighting at both signals. This allows the trucks to alter the signals in their favour, saving up to a minute on the trip through town.

The Hall was designed to serve a population of up to 30,000 people, and house a full-time firefighting force. Although there are presently no sleeping accommodations, the facility was built to allow the addition of a second storey some time in the future. The necessary ductwork and plumbing are already in place in the ceiling.

At the moment, Bradford has a volunteer fire department, with 25 part-time firefighters. It will be up to Council to decide if, and when, to make the switch to "full time". "It all boils down to finance," says Mendrek.

The impact of amalgamation is also still to be determined, and will depend on decisions made by the transition team, as to "what level of service they want to provide to their residents."

Some of the questions to be considered include the extension of fire safety inspections to West Gwillimbury, construction of a second fire station in the township to obviate the need for Inter-municipal Fire Suppression contracts with Cookstown and Schomberg, and the use of West Gwillimbury taxes to help pay for Bradford's new fire hall. Bradford has taken out a $1 million debenture for the hall.

The fire department has its own "wish list". It is hoping that future allocations will permit the purchase of an aerial apparatus. At present, the town is relying on Newmarket, whenever aerial equipment is needed. That need could very well increase.

"We've already do have twelve high rises in town", warns Mendrek. "Council is aware of that, but...the building had to come first."

Article on the opening of the new Administrative building for the Township of West Gwillimbury. There is discussion of the idea of amalgamation within the text.

A newspaper from November 3, 1988. The opening ceremony for the new Bradford Public Library at 100 Holland Court was that week on November 6, 1988.

Operating hours of the Holland Court library

"Editor's note: with the new Bradford Public Library scheduled to hold Official Opening Ceremonies November 6, 1988, following is an article submitted by D. Cilipka on the library's past history in Bradford." ...

A newspaper clipping about a Jog/ Walkathon, with proceeds going towards the new Bradford Public Library at 100 Holland Court.

"Whatever becomes of this grand old lady, her colourful history will not be soon forgotten.

When the Recreation Facilities Committee was formed consisting of Chairperson Ann Currie, Jim Culbert, Steve Boland, Ellen MacKenzey, Bill Germayne and Sharon Sinclair, Director of Parks and Recreation, one of their first commitments was to find the "ideal" location to house the new Recreation and Cultural Complex. After a considerable amount of investigative work and discussion by this Committee, the favorite choice was the old convent.

While the convent certainly fits the "centralized" location criteria, an added attraction is the history which surrounds this 112-year old structure.

In 1876, John MacLean Stevenson built this masterpiece (named Masonic Lodge) and lived in it a short 10 months before selling it to the Robert Bingham family. This family stay was a little longer (16 years) before it, once again, changed hands. In 1893, James Boddy became the proud owner and renamed the house "Fairview". He resided there until 1903 when the property was purchased by Rev. Egerton Ryerson Young (noted missionary and publisher) who again renamed the house this time she was labeled "Algonquin Lodge". Upon the death of Rev. Young in 1910, his family sold the house to Sam Lukes who ran the Bradford Flour Mill. Lukes pet name for the home was "Luxalean". The house stayed in the Lukes family until Gilbert Lukes sold it in 1949. At the time of this sale, the plot of land was divided in two; on the plot south of the house was built St. Mary's Catholic School. The house was occupied by a group of teaching nuns of the Ursuline Order of the Diocese of London in Ontario.

In 1969, John and Maria Moniz bought the stately mansion and turned it into an apartment house. Contrary to the zoning by-laws, Town Council closed their eyes and allowed this grand home to be a multiple family dwelling for 12 years.

From the moment John Moniz' sale was accepted by Fred Picavet's cash offer, which in turn, nullified the offer made by the Town's agent, the convent had been cloaked in a shroud of controversy.

No sooner had the new deed owners, Fred and Betty Lou Picavet begun the extensive renovation work to the upstairs wings, than Bradford town council issued a "stop work order" and filed a Lis Pendents with the County Courts in Barrie (Feb. 26, 1981). This order was subsequently honoured by the County Court Office which necessitated an immediate halt on the renovation work by Picavet. While workmanship was in "pending", taxes continued to be paid by the owner (Picavet).

It wasn't until 1987 when an out-of-court settlement was reached between Fred Picavet and the Town that the convent became the legal property of the town of Bradford.

While the "legal hagglings" were underway, the old convent sat empty for five consecutive winters. Pampering can oft times help to slow down the natural aging process. Unfortunately, pampering the convent during that turbulent time was not a top priority item; henceforth, the building was vandalized on a fairly regular basis.

For someone like Jim Culbert, "the furniture doctor", it was nothing less than a mortal sin that such a fine building should have been so readily accessible to vandals. At the time Jim, personally, approached Town Council and Pat Storey to see if the building could be boarded up to discourage further destruction. He was basically told that the Safety Standards Bylaw which was in place to deal with this situation was unable to be looked after due to the lack of a by-law enforcement officer.

Incensed by that line of reasoning, Jim decided to "go to bat" for the convent. Through public awareness and letters to various newspapers, the convent was eventually boarded up which helped to minimize the continued vandalism.

With the endorsement of the Master Plan Recreation Study and the Facilities Committee, to renovate a part of the convent for the new Recreation and Cultural Complex, Jim Culbert is, once again, appealing to the town's people to "get on board" with regard to bringing this matter to the forefront. The decision on the fate of the convent has "gone on far too long" in Culbert's opinion. "Let's get it resolved one way or the other, either tear it down or renovate it and make it into a beautiful piece of property."

As Jim recalls, "A year ago Town Council promised a public meeting to discuss the convent issue which was never carried out. Hopefully, the newly-elected Council will stick to their electoral views on this issue."

A building with such Italianate design is rare in today's society. By restoring it, a two-fold purpose will be served; firstly, it will provide a complex to house programs such as the arts, drama, brownies, cubs, moms and tots etc. Secondly, and ideally, a room in the old wing of the house will be set aside for a "museum" of sorts to provide past history on the convent and Bradford itself".

IF RESTORED, this spectacular mansion will serve as a memorial to the previous owners."