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BRADFORD - They came by the hundreds yesterday (Tuesday) to pay their respects to a dedicated fire fighter - Harold "Butch" Boyd, Bradford's fire chief, who died Saturday in York County Hospital in Newmarket.

He was 64.

Firefighters from across southern Ontario came to pay a final tribute to the quiet, modest man who was buried in full uniform yesterday at Newmarket Cemetery.

His comrades formed an honor guard after a simple ceremony at the Lathangue and Skwarchuk Funeral Home.

Up until the morning before he died, Butch was preparing for a fire safety campaign involving his pet project: having smoke detectors installed in every home in Bradford.

WORK TO DO

His widow Eileen recalls him telling fellow Bradford firefighter Jim Church Friday, "I've got to go down to the fire hall. There's a lot of work to do."

"Being fire chief was his whole life," said Sherran Breedon, his daughter. "The only time he ever went anywhere - Quebec and Regina - was to a convention as Bradford's fire chief.:

Former Fire Chief Ted Gapp remembers Butch as a "real good, dedicated fireman."

He was born in Newmarket, moving to Bradford in 1937 where he opened a butcher shop. He married Eileen in 1942 and moved into the house, coincidentally, directly across from the future fire hall where he would spend so much of his time.

Eileen smiled when she remembered his unorthodox style of buying a home.

"He never even looked inside the place. He just figured that since he was getting married he needed a house."

She fell through the floor as soon as she stepped in for her first look.

36 YEARS SERVICE

Butch joined the fire department in 1943. He was also a charter member of the Bradford Lions Club, although he stopped his activities with the club some time later.

In addition to his profession as butcher, Butch was also a restauranteur, pool hall operator, and manager of the first vacuum plant in Ontario - "A jack-of-all-trades," according to his daughter.

Butch became fire chief after the retirement of Ted Gapp in 1975.

He was an avid curler and belonged to the curling club up until three years ago.

But his first love was the fire department.

Despite recent hospitalization, he continued to organize his safety campaign, arrange the weekly practice drills, conduct school tours, and when the need arose, supervise firefighting.

He was rushed to York County Friday evening after he developed breathing difficulties. He died the following morning.

Harold Boyd leaves his wife Eileen, daughter Sherran (Mrs. George Breedon) of Bradford, three grandchildren, Laurie, Paul and Trish, and a brother Glenn of Scarborough.

Pallbearers were Orville Hand, Bill Breen, Ron Bannerman, Lawrence McKnight, Jim Church and George Allan. Flowerbearers were Ted Gapp, Ken Carter, Roy Storey, Bev Everitt, Gordon Church and Ted Bulpit.

Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News
February 15, 1984

W. Earl Rowe, veteran of federal politics and former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, died yesterday of a heart attack at his farm, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Toronto. He was 89.

A lover of both politics and horses, Mr. Rowe spent 35 years as a Progressive Conservative member at both provincial and federal levels before being named lieutenant-governor in 1963, a post he held for five years.

His only defeat at the polls came in 1937, when he waged an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the Ontario premiership from Liberal Mitchell Hepburn. Shortly afterwards, he returned to federal politics.

Born in Iowa of Ontario parents, Mr. Rowe began his political career in 1919, when he was elected reeve of Gwillimbury Township.

He next won a provincial seat in the riding of South Simcoe in 1923 and two years later won the federal seat of Dufferin-Simcoe. He held the seat for 38 years with the only interruption being his try for the Ontario premiership.

Mr. Rowe was the youngest member in the cabinet of R.B. Bennett, serving briefly in 1935 as a minister without portfolio in the short-lived government. he resigned his federal seat and returned to provincial politics when the government was defeated in November of that year.

He remembered Bennett as "probably the most knowledgeable and least appreciated prime minister because of the very difficult time he went through."

Mr. Rowe was provincial Tory leader from 1936 to 1938, but his failure to win a seat in the 1937 election, and reported dissension in party ranks, sent him back to Ottawa.

He ran federally for Dufferin-Simcoe again in 1940, and was reelected six times before leaving federal politics in 1963 to become lieutenant-governor, a position he held for five years.

Mr. Rowe and his late wife, Teva, raised horses.

Event Date : February 17, 1899
Event Type : Death

Description : The death of Mr. John Boddy, of this village, was referred to last week by nearly all our county exchanges. In our obituary notice we overlooked mentioning the fact that deceased had been a county magistrate for many years, and was also a staunch Conservative and a strong admirer of the late Sir John A. Macdonald. For upwards of thirty years he was the honoured treasurer of the South Simcoe Conservative Association, and in his day rendered valuable service to his party. The immediate cause of his death was an affection of the kidneys.

Event Date : January 25, 1891
Event Type : Death

Synopsis:
Age: 73 years, 9 months, 26 days. Born at Old Castle, County Meath, Ireland in 1817. Emigrated to Canada in 1819, and settled on lot 24, concession 5, Tecumseth. Married Margaret Sutherland of West Gwillimbury, and they moved to lot 4, concession 6. Widowed, and married Miss Sharpe of King Township. He had a daughter who married Ingham N. Sharpe, and now lives in West Toronto Junction. Died of a paralytic stroke. Interred at St. John's Cemetery, Tecumseth.

Event Date : Wednesday, September 25, 1946
Event Type : Death

Description : Wife of J.E. Ted Culbert, mother to Mary, 7 and daughter of Mr and Mrs WIlliam M. Kneeshaw died in Hamilton at 38 after a 2 year illness. She was born in Gilford and taught school in Cherry Creek before marrying in 1934. Interment in the United Church Cemetery, Bond Head.

Event Date : Thursday, September 26, 1946
Event Type : Death

Description : Husband of Rose Pearce and father of Miss Lillian, Miss Helen, Miss Beatrice, William and Gordon died at Toronto Western Hospital. He was a native of West Gwillimbury. Interment in St. Pauls Cemetery.

Event Date : Tuesday, November 05, 1946
Event Type : Death

Description : Husband of Sadie Saint and father to Mrs Harvey Marks (Dorothy) died in his home after a seizure from thrombosis. Mr Reeves was a Town Constable for Bradford. He was born in England and moved to Bradford at 13. Member of the Bradford lacrosse championship team of 1908-09. Rev. H.G. Blake conducted the ceremony and interment is in St. Pauls' Cemetery, Coulson's Hill.

Event Date : Wednesday, February 28, 1951
Event Type : Death

Description : Died in Toronto. Husband of Ida Banting. The funeral was held from the home of his son, Charles Watson, of Bradford, on March 3 at 3 pm. Interment in Scotch Settlement Cemetery.

January 8, 1985
Death

William J. Sutherland, 78, of Bond Head died Jan. 8, 1985 at YorkCounty Hospital. Son of the late John Sutherland, of West Gwillimbury Township and the late Mary Noble of Yorkshire, England, hewas born Sept. 17, 1909 in Bond Head. He was married Sept 21, 1935 in Tecumseth Township to the late Elva Bradley...He was predeceased by his wife on Dec. 26, 1984. Surviving are three daughters, Margaret Brethet, of RR3 Tottenham, Marian Davey, of RR1 Bradford, and Doris Colborn, of Gilford, one son, John Sutherland, of Midland, one sister, Mary Breedon, of RR1 Bradford, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild....

Friday, January 18, 1985
Death

Wilbert Keith Orr, 75, of Bond Head, died Friday, January 18 at the York County Hospital, Newmarket.
Son of Andrew Orr and Jane Campbell, both of Dufferin County, he was born Feb. 16, 1909 in Tecumseth Township. He was married Mar. 8, 1941 in the bride's home to Jean Lisk and has lived on the fifth line of Tecumseth and in Bond Head....Surviving are his wife, one daughter, Donna, Mrs. Andrew Rabiewsky, two grandchildren,three sisters, Marion Craog, of Tornoto, Maida Ritchie, of Beeton and Madeline Porritt, of Gilford and one brother, Wm. J. Orr, of Tottenham....