Showing 325 results

The following set of photographs were taken from the Bradford Witness August 21, 1957 edition, highlighting the Bradford Centennial parade and celebrations.
This Centennial float was made by the Bradford Council of 1957.

"The brutal murder of Robert McKay, young RCAF veteran and his wife, Gloria, on Monday evening [August 1, 1949] of last week, has aroused the people of this province as few such tragedies have ever done before and the setting for this crime appears to be definitely established in the Bradford area..."

Describes the events leading up to Mr. and Mrs. McKay's murder. The two were shot to death and found in Toronto. The killer, Stanley Buckowski, was found in Los Angeles as a serial robber and murderer, where he was charged and executed in 1952 by gas chamber. He was never charged for the McKays murder, though admitted to the crime and of another murder of RCAF veteran, Alfred Edward Layng, in Toronto on July 30, 1949.

Frank Wilson and Leonard Jackson, two of the three men who held up the Bradford C.I.B.C., receive a preliminary hearing. Article details Provincial Constable Reg. Wilson's testimony as to what occurred that day.

"Mystery, beyond the understanding of the closest friends of the family, surrounds the horrifying tragedy of the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. F.W. ("Bud") Stephenson in their home above the Bradford Bakery, in which business the former was a partner, sometime about midnight on Saturday. ..."

"Clerk Forced at Gun-Point to Open Cash Register -- Street Row Distracts Attention of Passerby."

Article describing a robbery at the Model Bakery on Holland Street.

Pretty 18-year-old Annette Grencer was chosen Salad Queen for the Festival. A student at Bradford District High School and the daughter of a marsh farmer, Annette was chosen over five other contestants. This photo appeared with a group of others in The Witness entitled "Bradford's year in photos."

"After Thursday last it surely can be agreed that there never was a truer statement than "I love a parade." Wednesday evening the average citizen about town figured that Thursday's plans were going to "flop" - no one seemed to know much about them and we who had announced these plans on information given us began to have that peculiar sensation, familiar to most people in the newspaper business of "having stuck our necks out." However, we'll have more faith the next time if George Carson is left in charge of local organization." ...

"This week's historical photo was submitted by Lew Campbell of RR 2, Bradford, whose father, W.L. Campbell (behind the counter) operated the drug store on Holland Street now occupied Ritchie's Variety Store. Fred C. Cook, standing in front of the counter, worked for Mr. Campbell for several years, intending to become a druggist. But he went into the insurance business instead. Mr. Campbell owned the drug store in Bradford for 57 years. He graduated from the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1891, a silver medalist in his class."

Article from the May 31, 1906 - special edition of the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News featuring local businesses and members of the community. This article provides a history of L.J. McConkey's Store, which provided groceries, teas, and seeds. L.J. McConkey was from Lefroy, and first worked at C. Goode's Grain Elevator before purchasing this store on January 1, 1906, from William Hockridge.

The article accompanying this photograph gives a quick history of the Mickle, Dyment and Son's Planing Mill and Lumber Yard. It was run by James Spence in 1906.