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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.

" 'Could the life of one child have been saved and the lives of five others been improved if the Children's Aid Society had acted sooner?' This is the question that Mrs. Carol Simone keeps asking herself after the drowning on Monday of her neighbor's child, Betty Lowder, aged 12..."

Event date: Monday, July 27, 1959
Event type: Death

Description: Mr. Dan Sadovchuk had been in York County Hospital about two months and appeared to be improving when death struck suddenly on Monday, July 27.
Bron in the Ukraine, September 23, 1888, Mr. Sadovchuk came to Canada when nineteen years old, living in Montreal until 1924. While in Montreal he married a young widow, Mrs. Stephanie Semenuk Pelowich, who had a little son Jimmy. Mr. and Mrs. Sadovchuk lived in Port Colborne and Windsor before coming to Bradford in 1932. They had one son of their own, George, who grew up and attended school in Bradford.
Mr. Sadovchuk was a gardener, and loved gardens. Everyone who knew him said he was a fine man. The serenity of his countenance bore evidence to the truth of the statement.
He is survived by his wife, of Bradford; his son, George Sadovchuk, of Toronto, his step-son, Jimmy Pelowich of Toronto; and one sister, Mrs. N. Malnachuk of Blind River, Ontario.
Rev. T.J. Dew of Mimico returned to Bradford to take the funeral services in Trinity Anglican Church, Bradford. Interment in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto.

Event date: November 11, 1953
Event date: Death

Description: One of the happiest occasions in Mr. William C. Davey's life was the 50th anniversary of the forming of the Hunt Club which bore his name, the Davey Hunt Club. The half-century mark in that club was reached in 1947 and the anniversary was marked by an honorary banquet for the veteran head of the club. At that time many thought the ambition to reach the fifty years as an active member of the club had spurred the elderly man to keep going, but 1948 found him back in camp as he has been each intervening year. Last Wednesday, November 11, a message came from the hunt camp, located near Burwash, Mileage 98, that the Club's leader would hunt no more. Among his most cherished friends, including his own sons, and amid the scenes he had always enjoyed, the old man suffered a heart seizure and passed on within a few minutes. He was in his 90th year." ...

Event Date : Wednesday, January 17, 1951
Event Type : Death
Municipality : St. Catharines

Description : "Although not resident here during the past six years, the sudden passing of Mrs. F.C. Ryan at her home in St. Catharines on Wednesday evening last is felt as a very Personal sorrow to hundreds in this community where, during the years of her girlhood, and again more recently, she was so well known as affectionately esteemed..."

Full obituary for Mrs. Fred (Catherine Eunice Scanlon) Wood:
"With the passing away at Newmarket Hospital on Friday, February 10, of Catherine Eunice Moore Scanlon, beloved wife of Fred Wood, West Gwillimbury lost one of its most well-known citizens. Mrs. Wood was born and lived all her life on the farm owned by her father, the late Thos. Scanlon, Lot 2, Concession 10, whose father, Mark Scanlon, settled at Scanlon's Creek about the year 1824. Her mother was the late Maria Sloane, whose parents settled on the farm of James Sloane about the same time. The late Mrs. Wood attended school at Mount Pleasant and later attended the High School situated at the northern entrance to the Pine Grove, Bradford. She was an Anglican and during her whole life attended St. Paul's Anglican Church, the church attended by her parents. Having lived her whole life on the same farm, and having a keen mind with vivid recollections of the early settlers, she knew intimately the history of West Gwillimbury and Bradford. Mrs. Wood is survived by her husband; one brother, Allan Scanlon, who wife was a former Bradford girl, Myra Baker; their six sons and one daughter, who attended the funeral. Predeceasing her were Annie (Mrs. Donald McKay); George; Birdie (Mrs. Thos. Wood), and Mark. The funeral was from the family residence to Mount Pleasant Cemetery, part of which was given to the Methodist Church by her grandfather, Mark Scanlon. The pallbearers were six nephews, Lewis Scanlon, Sudbury; Fred Scanlon, Copper Cliff; Douglas Scanlon, Callander; Bert Scanlon, North Bay; Walter Wood, Painesville, Ohio, and gerald Wood, Wyandotte, Mich."

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, 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, May 18, 1944
Event Type : Death

Description (pg1) : At his home Bradford, Ontario, on Thursday, May 18, 1944, Harry Bugler, beloved husband of Lillian Martin, in his 61st year. The funeral service was from his late residence on Sunday, May 11 at 2 o'clock p.m. Interment in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date : Thursday, February 18, 1943
Event Type : Death

Description : Wife to Mr. John J. Depew and mother to Mrs. David Smith (Georgina), Oswald and Eddie died in her home. Rev. J. McKenzie conducted the services.