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Photo of Keith Stevens sifting though identifiable mail from the Post Office fire which occurred on April 29, 1981.

BRADFORD - Life-long Bradford resident and lawyer C.T.S. "Charlie" Evans last week shed further light on the history of the old convent on Barrie St.

The convent it currently the object of a legal tussle over ownership between the town and the contractor Fred Picavet.

Mr. Evans said he recalls being told by Kate Stevenson, the daughter of 19th century Bradford lawyer John MacLean Stevenson, that her father constructed the house based on plans of a Scots castle.

A CASTLE
"I recall her telling me that at one time he had gone to Scotland and had come back with plans of a castle and that he had this house built according to that plan," Mr. Evans said.

According to his personal records, Mr. Evans noted that Mr. Stevenson had been a Master of the Masonic Lodge in Bradford in 1877, a post usually held by older men.

"So hazarding a guess I would have to say that that house would be 150 years old," he surmised.

FIRST WAR
He said that the Lukes family, who owned the Bradford flour mill in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, likely moved into the house around the beginning of the First World War.

"Dick Crake bought the Lukes' house (where the Anzil Plaza now stands) around that time and the Lukes moved into what everyone now knows as the old convent."

Mr. Evans said a check could be made in the registry office in Barrie to determine when the property was originally purchased by Mr. Stevenson.

"While not disparaging the splendid service and fine co-operation of the firemen from neighbouring municipalities, in the battle to save Bradford from more extensive damage from fire last Wednesday, the brunt of the long hours of the fight, and the strain of responsibility, fell upon the home brigade, and their magnificent effort and success merits the gratitude of every Bradford property owner." ...

"Owners of businesses destroyed in last Wednesday's fire are making arrangements to carry on business in temporary quarters and are planning a building program. According to present plans, a fine new business block will rise this year on the site of the stores destroyed in last Wednesday's conflagration." ...

"The Witness surely expresses the feelings of all residents of the district in extending sympathy to those who stood helpless last Wednesday afternoon and watched their flourishing businesses destroyed by fire." ...

The ruins of the Holland Street stores which were affected by the fire.

This article lists the members of the Emergency Relief Committee for the Holland Marsh Flood due to Hurricane Hazel.

"To help solve the housing problem for the thousand or more people made homeless by the flood a trailer town is being planned.
Bradford Rotary Club members are in charge of this project and the objective is 100 trailer cabins to be located on the ball grounds. It is proposed to install showers and toilet facilities to serve this big trailer camp.
The search for a sufficient number of trailers is already underway."

Two 'notice' articles for home owners and helpers of flood relief.
"Notice to Owners of Dishes at Town Hall
All who have sent pots, pans and dishes to the town hall with food are requested to call at the town hall as soon as possible and pick up their belongings. Workers can't look after the quantity of containers that is accumulating and you will help them by attending to this matter promptly."

"Advice to Owners of Submerged Motors
One of our local garage men has suggested that owners of all motor vehicles and motorized equipment, which has been submerged in water, heed the following advice: 'Do not turn over motors until magnetos and ignition system have been thoroughly dried out.' "