Showing 599 results

"Mike Kilkenny called his baseball career to a halt in 1973 after a squabble with the management of the Cleveland Indians, but he may be on his way to the major leagues again. Mike, who was raised in Bradford, told The Witness that a successful year with the Senior Intel County Baseball League's London Majors has drawn scouts from the big leagues south of the border to take a look. Mike went on to say that his season's statistics have aroused interest. So far this year he has won and finished each of the nine games he started and has 130 strike outs in 85 innings."

"The paper you are holding today marks a milestone in the history of The Bradford Witness. It is the first Witness and Scope to come off our brand new King press. Here King field rep. Bill Runnels and Witness pressman Gerard Perrell make a few adjustments during a run on Topic this week."

"Bradford Police Constable Henry Bell, and sewage treatment plant employees Sandy Pearson and Lloyd Seed received marble desk sets from CNR Toronto Area Manager Bob Doty last week. The men were presented with gifts for their attempts to stop a CNR freight train before it was derailed during a freak storm two months ago. Mr. Doty thanked the men on behalf of the CNR and added that although the train did not stop, it did slow enough to prevent a more serious crash."

"Robert Brown of West Gwillimbury Township, recently joined the ranks of relatively elite professionals. Earlier this year Mr. Brown was given accreditation as an appraiser by the Appraisal Institute of Canada. It took him 10 years and a lot of study to attain the position. Brown says his new status won't change much. He points out that he only has six or so years until his retirement and he is happy working for the ministry. However, he didn't completely rule out the possibility of hanging out a shingle and going to work for himself. But right now, he is going to sit back and enjoy life."

"This is the location of the new Bank of Commerce the way it looked in 1915. At this time the bank was named Standard Bank and was located a bit further west. Around 1920, the bank branch moved to the corner of Barrie and Holland Streets. The buildings in the picture are a laundry and the post office."

"When Southern Ontario residents put away all their snowmobiling equipment and winter clothes, they thought the long, cold winter had ended, but Old Man Winter decided he still had some say in the matter. Over a foot of snow covered southern Simcoe County and winds gusting up to 50 miles an hour created 15-foot drifts that blocked traffic, closed businesses, schools, and stranded travellers. The Ontario Provincial Police detachment had their hands full like everybody else. The detachment has waded through only a handful of accident reports and so far they report four property damage collisions involving six vehicles on Highway 400 between Highways 88 and 89. Five property damage collisions involving six vehicles south of Highway 88 were also looked into. There are still numerous accidents that have yet to be fully investigated."

"Chamber of Commerce President George Allison explained the set up of this year's Bradford Salad Festival Committee to a gathering of more than 50 representatives from local, civic and service organizations during a dinner meeting at Toby's Restaurant last week. This year, the Chamber of Commerce is acting as an umbrella organization for the event. This year's Salad Festival will be held on the July 18, 19 weekend."

"Somewhere in Bradford there is an unidentified man who may have saved the lives of a CNR railway crew on board a southbound freight train that plunged off the line and did over $1 million damage behind Hardee Farms during the storm last Wednesday night. Morris Sims, A CNR spokesman, told The Witness that a mystery man tried to warn the train's engineer that 100 feet of track had been washed out by the storm. Mr. Sims said the man tried to warn the engineer with a flashlight but the engineer couldn't understand the signal. The spokesman added the engineer slowed the train from its regular 50 miles per hour to 20 just to be on the safe side. Even though the train did run off the track at the reduced speed, Sims said the man probably saved the crew's lives by his action."

"Plans for the Bradford Snowarama are quickly shaping up as organizers distribute pledge forms, and snowmobilers line up sponsors for the 100-mile ride slated for Sunday, February 5. The Ontario Society for Crippled Children is coordinating the event for the fourth year with the help of local snowmobile clubs, and service clubs involved with the Easter Seals campaign. The society has set a goal of $1 million for the Bradford Snowarama and 17 other similar rides to be held throughout the province. "Things are looking good right now for the Bradford Snowarama," said Don Hart, supervisor of service club relations for Crippled Children. "We're optimistic that everything will go well, if the weather is good." The Bradford and District Snowmobile Club will blaze the trail which begins at Varley's Marina and follows a route north from Bradford along the Schomberg River to Lake Simcoe, following the eastern shore of Cook's Bay as far as Snake Island, crossing over to Innisfil Beach. It continues north to Big Bay Point and heads for the northern terminus at Kempenfeldt Bay. The return route parallels the west coast of Lake Simcoe, and winds through Big Bay Point, Innisfil Beach, Gilford, and back to Bradford and Varley's Marina. More than $50,000 was raised last year by the Bradford Snowarama, and organizers hope to top that amount by a wide margin this year. Whipper Billy Watson, a regular at the snowaramas and a Bradford resident, has helped recruit an impressive line-up of snowmobilers for his hometown ride."

"Frank Tunney Jr., recreation director of the Bradford
Community Centre, died last Thursday of cancer, He was 38. Mr. Tunney leaves his wife Cathy and five children, Michael, 9, Anne, 8, Bridget, 6, Marty, 5, Tricia, 3. Funeral service was held Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. Mr. Tunney, the son of wrestling promoter Frank Tunney Sr., took over as manager of the Bradford arena in May of 1973. Before that, he was an instrument technician for Orenda Engines in Malton and a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Department. He continued working at the community centre up to one week before finally losing his battle with the disease. Long-time family friend Sandy Hudson said, "He had that characteristic that he would not let this get him without a fight." Under his direction, the Bradford Community Centre became one of the finest and most smoothly run buildings in the area. "He was the backbone of this place," said Don Harrison, assistant manager of the arena. "Frank was the kind of guy who would help anyone who needed it." Last year Mr. Tunney also took on the position of Recreation Co-ordinator, a job he tackled with his customary enthusiasm. During the summer months, he managed the Bradford Lions Pool. An active member of the Bradford Rotary Club, Mr. Tunney was a "very involved member," according to club president Bas Visser. "He had a lot of hope and energy. You really had to admire him." Mr. Tunney was also a sports enthusiast. He coached the Allenby Electric novice hockey team, and formerly wrote a weekly curling column in The Witness. Last year he donned his skates to play for the Bradford Oldtimers hockey team. Saturday during the service at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the church was jammed with family, friends, sports and television personalities."