Article from the May 31, 1906 - special edition of the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News featuring local businesses and members of the community. This article provides a history of the grain elevator business previously on the site of the current GO Train Station on Bridge Street. Farmers around town would bring in their grain to the elevators by wagon and sleighs in order to have their grains bought. The highest bidder would then direct the farmers to their specific grain mills to be processed. The building was demolished by the end of the Second World War.
Two articles on the Historic day for the Holland Marsh and Village of Bradford:
"According to A.H. Wilford, publisher of Transport News, the plans for "Bradford Story," to-morrow, November 4, near completion and success. Marsh gardeners, business men, and highland farmers - everybody who calls Bradford their shopping centre, is invited to join in this big parade to Toronto and thus advertise their home town." ...
Also an invitation from Reeve Charles T.S. Evans to attend the same event.
"Among the distinguished guests who visited here for the celebration last Thursday, and spoke at noon-hour, were Hon. Earl Rowe, M.P.; Geo. G. Johnston, M.P.P.; J. Smith, M.P.; Col. Mulock; Mr. T. Strothers, special agricultural representative, head office, Canadian Bank of Commerce; Mr. Hymas, C.N.R. property man; Controller Innis, Toronto; A.H. Wilford, and Reeves C.T.S. Evans and V. Turner of Bradford and West Gwillimbury. Mr. George Horlings, vice-president and general manager of Holland River Gardens Co. Ltd extended an invitation to visit that plant. The work of the marsh pioneers was fittingly mentioned by several of the speakers and a minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Prof. W.H. Day."
"One exhibit which attracted a great deal of interest in last Thursday's parade was the huge melon tied on the front of Gordon Bateman's truck, which was being driven for Bradford Seed House. The melon, which weighed 115 pounds, was over five feet long and more than 1 foot in diameter. It was not grown here but was brought in by a traveller for seeds, selling to Bradford Seed House. This traveller informed that the melon is of the gourd variety and is known as the Zucca Melon. It is used to make Christmas peels and cherries. After the parade was over a policeman's whistle stopped the Bateman truck at Yonge and Queen and the officer halted traffic while he examined the melon, he being just as curious as many others watching the parade. The melon in shape and colour slightly resembles the vegetable marrow."
"Bradford will be on the air on Monday, December 6 as the result of a recording made by Don Sims of CBC at a complimentary dinner given by Mr. A.H. Wilford, publisher of "Transport News" and sponsor of "Bradford's Story." ....
"Agriculture Minister William Newman was on hand last Wednesday with cattle owner John Devins for a special service. The men were celebrating the first time an imported breed of cattle has been sent back to its country of origin. John Devins' Charolais bull, Jericho, has been sold to French cattlemen for $19,000."
"After Thursday last it surely can be agreed that there never was a truer statement than "I love a parade." Wednesday evening the average citizen about town figured that Thursday's plans were going to "flop" - no one seemed to know much about them and we who had announced these plans on information given us began to have that peculiar sensation, familiar to most people in the newspaper business of "having stuck our necks out." However, we'll have more faith the next time if George Carson is left in charge of local organization." ...
"Feeding refugees: Marsh refugees enjoy a hot meal in the Bradford town hall after their flight from the flooded Holland Marsh. Most spent the winter in an emergency trailer camp set up where the community centre stands today."
