"Andy Simurda, 71, rises each summer morning at dawn to help his son, John, cultivate vegetables on the family's holding in the Holland Marsh. In 1932, Mr. Simurda came to the marsh with three friends from his native country, Czechoslovakia. J. Kacmar, Joseph Kuhla, and M. Sklencar were partners with Mr. Simurda in marsh gardening. They even shared accommodation in the village of Bradford while their wives waited in Czechoslovakia until the men established themselves in Canada."
"Visitors from as far away as Idaho came to the open house at the Muck Research Station in the Holland Marsh last Friday. A steady stream of farmers, growers, salesmen and students toured the nine-acre site loaded with exhibits and test crops. The research station has served the area since the late 1940's, testing various crops, fertilizers, and chemicals used on muck crops. The station is headed by senior muck crops specialist Matt Valk, with Edo Knibbe as the agricultural technician, and staff members Fred Weening, Dave Walton, Eleanor Wall and Maureen Evans. The annual open house was blessed with warm, sunny weather."
"A 19-year-old Downsview man, Robert O'Brien, was the second driver to end up in the canal in the past four weeks. Mr. O'Brien lost control of his car on Friday night after freezing rain covered area roads with slick ice. O'Brien was not hurt in the mishap."
"Temperatures which dipped below freezing Monday night met resistance from warm water early yesterday, creating what appears to be a grass fire. Icy weather did some damage on the Marsh, but farmers were expecting it. Warmer temperatures are expected later this week."
"A freight train with 22 cars filled with gravel tore up 100 feet of track after it hit a spot on the tracks that was washed out by the more than three inches of rain that poured down on Bradford and Holland Marsh. Damages is estimated at over $1 million for the train wreck alone."
Photo is taken facing north prior to the flood of Hurricane Hazel (October 15, 1954) Lettuce in foreground is #9654 lettuce. Hand dug ditch is also illustrated.
Photo was taken near the Bradford Pump House at the junction of the canal and the Holland River near Hwy. 11. The pumps were flown in from Western Canada by the Armed Forces, arranged by Mr. Stoddart. A tractor was used to run the pump. Water was pumped from the flooded land over the dyke and into the canal from where it flowed along the Holland River and into Cook's Bay.
Municipality : West Gwillimbury Community : Holland Marsh Lot : 8 Concession : 3 Description : A flooded field facing north east from Hwy. 400 after Hurricane Hazel (Oct. 15, 1954). In the foreground is the service road that runs beside Hwy. 400 between Hwy. 9 and the Canal Road. Bags of harvested onions are stacked in the field.
Municipality : West Gwillimbury Community : Holland Marsh Lot : 8 Concession : 2
Description : This photo was taken soon after the the flood caused by Hurricane Hazel (Oct. 15, 1954) of Charlie Davis' house, with Hwy. 400 in the foreground, facing north. The white house in the background is the De Peuter home which floated, with the family aboard, to land near the highway.
