"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."
"A meeting was held Sunday evening to discuss the future of the Bond Head Post Office. Above, [left to right], A.R. Secor, area manager; Bradford postmaster, Keith Stevens and the organizer of the meeting, Mrs. Lynda Usher, consider the future. Although an advertisement has been placed for a new postmaster, no one has applied for the position, About 50 villagers attended the meeting."
"With the opening of the Scotiabank building on Holland St. West imminent, members of the new bank's staff are getting ready for the big day. Sheryl Lynn, Ingrid Szyiko, Carol Bell, Ruth Wiltshire and Manager Peter Monkhouse will all be on hand at the bank's grand opening Saturday."
"Deputy Reeve Fred Cook has decided to run for council in this year's election. 'I've served for 10 or 12 years as deputy reeve. I think it's time to let someone else have a shot at it, but I'd still like to serve on council,' said Mr. Cook. Born and raised in Bradford, the town has been the centre of the candidate's whole life. 'I have a natural interest in the developments affecting the future of the town. It's pretty certain we are going to grow unless growth is restricted by the government. I'm not against growth, but I think it's essential we don't grow too fast or too soon. As we grow, we must set up and maintain the essentials for growth, from our schools to our sewers,' said Cook. Cook said his greatest interest, outside his work and politics, has been Christian education. In 1962, he received a national citation for Christian education by a Canadian from the department of Christian Education from the Canadian Council of Churches. He has also served as a lay reader in the Anglican Church since 1934."
"This week's photo, courtesy of the Bradford Fire Department, depicts the fire in February of 1959 which destroyed a large block of the downtown section, from Evans and Evans to the police department. The fire swept through several businesses, unprotected by fire walls. Firefighters from five arena departments battled almost 20 hours to quell the stubborn blaze which caused an estimated $500,000 damage. This week's photo was suggested by Ernest and Lola Peterman of Bradford who sent in a newspaper clipping of the fire."
"Norm Barron, owner of Barron's Dominion Hardware, has retired after 32 years in the hardware business. The store was founded by Norm's father Harry Barron in 1932 in a location now occupied by John Gaus Interiors and N.S. Smith Real Estate. The elder Mr. Barron, a native of Brampton, had been a foreman at the Peace Foundry before making a move to Bradford and starting in the hardware business. Norm helped his father part-time in the store until the Second World War broke out and he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was stationed in the western provinces during the war and taught aerial photography, and while out west met and married his wife Carol.After the war, Norm returned to Bradford and entered into full partnership with his father."
"Honorable Earl Rowe, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, was guest speaker at the Fisher's Corners Womens Institute Meeting January 20. A great supporter of women's institutes, Mr. Rowe spoke to the women and their husbands for about 45 minutes on current issues like the Quebec problem and reminsced about politicking in the area in horse and buggy das. He expressed the need for multi-lingualism in Canada, rather than just bilingualism, explaining that Canada was a land of many nationalities and not just French and English. Well qualified to discuss national affairs, Mr. Rowe said he had personally known and worked with eight of Canada's prime ministers, including Pierre Trudeau. Described as a very warm and down-to-earth person by the women, Mr. Rowe is currently in retirement at his farm near Newton Robinson. He told the group he spends much of his time exercising his horses and reading."
"More than 180 persons were on hand at the Bradford Community Centre Friday night to honor 'Uncle Joe' Magani on his retirement from 20 years in Bradford politics, the last 16 of those as mayor. Reeve Ken Wood was chairman for the evening, and he opened the meeting by introducing head table guests, and then handed the microphone over to Charlie Evans, former reeve, county warden, and town solicitor for Bradford. Chairman Ken Wood then called on Bradford Fire Chief Harold "Butch" Boyd to make another presentation. The gift from the firefighters was a gold-plated fire helmet naming Mr. Magani as honorary chief of the Bradford Fire Department."
"Most people in Canada are dreaming of getting away from the slush and the snow, the freezing temperatures and those dismal cold mornings trying to start the car. A place like Australia, perhaps, with its perpetual summer and golden beaches. Lesley Anne Vasey of Church Street in Bradford has just returned from Australia, and contends she couldn't wait to see some good old Canadian snow again. They have no snow in Australia, she explained, and to a native-born Canadian snow is something you miss after a while. But that doesn't mean it didn't get cold. The two months of winter they did get (in our summer) was cold enough for Lesley Anne because Australian homes don't have central heating. The problems in Australia are similar to Canada's such as unemployment."
"Timmy and Tammy were in Bradford last week to generate support for the Snowarama to be held February 13 from Varley's Marina. From the left are Bradford Mayor Roy Gordon, former mayor Joe Magani, Timmy (Kevin Collins of Orillia), Tammy (Patty Doak of Newmarket), Whipper Billy Watson, and Aurora Mayor George Timpson. The Snowarama is in its third year, and it's purpose is to raise money for crippled children in Ontario. Whipper Watson has been involved in the Ontario Crippled Children's Society for the past 28 years."
