The following notes on the history of this bible were written by George Jackson in 2008:
"The Gardener Bible In the winter of 2008 this bible was offered to the BWG Local HIstory Room as a memento of the Gardener family who lives at Steele's Corners, the 14th line of West Gwillimbury. The bible came to us through the auspices of Mrs. Kay Boer of Stroud. Her family home had been near the Gardeners and it was through her efforts that the connections were made to have the Bible come to our Library. In this case there were two Bible's involved in this story which goes something like this. The lady who found theses Bibles worked at the Barrie landfill. She noticed these two Bibles when they were brought to the "dump" on top of a load of articles that appeared to come from a home that was being cleaned out. She retrieved them. The one Bible she has retained and the other one is here..... As I mentioned there were two Bibles. This Bible does not have any marking to identify it with the family. We assume it was in the Gardener family because it was associated with the other Bible that had the births marriages and deaths associated with thte Gardener family inscribed in the centre pages...."
On August 20, 1923 Annie Velma Stewart was born to William (Casey) & Annie (nee Harman) Stewart in Bradford, Ontario. This gown was worn by her for her baptism on June 26, 1924 in Bradford, Ontario.
An article about a church vestry meeting for the churches: Christ Church (Middleton), Trinity Church (Bradford) and St. Paul's Church (Coulson's Hill).
Bond Head Methodist Church - stain glass window in memory of John Wilcox and Edward Jeffs.
John Wilcox was a pioneer of Tecumseth Township, arriving in 1855 from Cuba (where he worked in mine structure support). He was born in Chyandour, Cornwall, England on April 22, 1827, and apprenticed as an architect and carpenter. He was sent to Cuba in 1848 to work. In Canada, he married Ann Proctor with whom he had 5 children. John helped the town build roads and bridges, and promoted the Wesleyan Methodist Church in its early days.
"He was a special kind of man. A ready smile, a razor-sharp wit and a concern for his fellow man.... these were the engaging qualities of Frederick Christopher Cook, town councillor, churchman and fraternal brother. Fred Cook was an unassuming man, who reached out and touched the lives of thousands of people. His dedication to public service as a town councillor will be remembered by the many Bradford ratepayers who came to know him and trust him as a man of honesty and directness. Fred was a warm man, who understood people's problems and did all he could to solve them. Besides his open humbleness, he was a man who was concerned about the future of his community."
"The Grade One students at Bradford Public school performed two plays last Friday for their parents. One play dealt with Santa and his reindeer, while the other was about the birth of Jesus. The shepherds and wise men gathered 'round and looked on as Jesus was born in a manger."
The Church was built in 1893 on the corner of Church and John Street, during the pastorade of Rev. F. Smith. It replaced a frame structure that was sold to the Anglican Church to be used for a parish hall in 1893, it was demolished in 1953. The Stonework is by George McDonald, a stonemason. The original name was Bradford Presbyterian Church but was later renamed St. John's Presbyterian Church in 1966. The seating capacity is 350, and the tower stands 65 feet high.
