Aerial view of Bradford shows the bank at the corner of No. 11 Highway and the town's main street. The four bandits escaped with $4,200 through dusty back streets with Cons. Wilson in rapid pursuit. The hold-up car was abandoned midway between Holland Landing and Sharon, where the men got into another stolen car to make good their getaway, minutes before police converged on the scene. Robbery was in full view of police office.
Two members of bank staff who faced guns of bandits were R.E. Black and Gloria Duncan, 17. The incident lasted less than five minutes from moment men entered.
"I was so frightened I could hardly move," said John Welgen, a marsh gardener, who entered the bank a few minutes before gunmen with his wife and daughter, Stephanie, two. They were forced to lie on the floor along with members of the staff.
Vera Peterman of Bradford drove the horse-drawn dairy wagon for seven years. She was the first of four Peterman girls to do so in the 35 years the dairy was running. She married Melville Williams of Tottenham. He was a blacksmith around Tottenham, as was his father Henry. The blacksmith shop was by the railroad track (now gone) north of #9 at Wolf Rd. Lower left to right: Melville Williams, Noreen (Hillis), Earl, Vera. Top Row: Bernice (Burrows), Jean (Scott), Eunice (Randall).
Side-view of the Elizabeth Gwillim statue which commemorates the woman whom the region of Bradford West Gwillimbury is named after. This statue was erected by the Gwillim Group, with help from sculptor Brenda Wainman Goulet, on the corner of John and Barrie Streets in Bradford. This side view shows the statues portrayal of the meeting of the Simcoes with the Objigway Chief, Great Sail who is pictured holding Francis Simcoe.
