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Municipality : West Gwillimbury
Community : Holland Marsh
Lot : 8
Concession : 3

Description : This photo is taken from west of Hwy. 400 after Hurricane Hazel (Oct. 15, 1954). Debris is shown piled up along Hwy. 400, which is on the far side of the hydro poles. The top of a long pile of bagged onions can be seen in the foreground. Note: onions were not used as sandbags.

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.

Front page of the first Bradford Witness paper after the Holland Marsh flood due to Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954. See Related Descriptions below for individual stories of this edition.

"George Horlings' Home, built above level of Lake Simcoe, is dry"

"About 50 Holland Marsh farmers are suing the Townships of West Gwillimbury and King, claiming damage to crops in August because of flooding. The farmers served notice of their intentions through their lawyers last month, saying the two municipalities neglected to clean the Schomberg River, and that the pumps at a pumping station didn't work during the heavy rain of August 16. The petition signed by the farmers was sent to the councils by their lawyer Norman Borins of Toronto. It states that because of the failure of the pumphouse much of the land near or level with the river was covered with water. King Mayor Margaret Britnell said the township has no obligation to the farmers because the cleaning of the canal and pumping operations are under the jurisdiction of the Holland Marsh Drainage Commission. Council agreed to receive the letter and send it on to the commission. West Gwillimbury council has referred the matter to the township's insurance company, Frank Cowan Company Limited."

Debris from the marshland piling up along Highway 400. Photograph from Betty Kennedy's 'Hurricane Hazel,' found in the Local History Collection.

Holland Marsh farmers return home to salvage belonging. Photograph from in Betty Kennedy's 'Hurricane Hazel,' found in the Local History Collection.

Springdale's main road viewed from above to see the extent of the flooding.

Holland Marsh farmers return home to salvage belonging. Photograph from in Betty Kennedy's 'Hurricane Hazel,' found in the Local History Collection.