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Municipality :
Community : Schomberg
Lot :
Concession :
Description : Glen Hulse was originally a diary farmer but he now has a successful plumbing and heating company.

Municipality :
Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury
Lot :
Concession :
Description : In 1818, John Stoddars travelled from County Cavan in Ireland to the Township of West Gwillimbury, and liked what he saw. He returned to Ireland, then came back to Simcoe County with his three sons, William, James and Hugh, and stepson John Faris, to settle on Lot 10, Con. 7 - on the northwest corner of Hwy. 88 and 10 Sideroad, by today's map. In due course, each son would have his own 100 acre farm nearby. The eldest son, William inherited the home farm in 1836 and built the brick house known as "The Oaks" that still stands and is ocupied today. James farmed next door on Lot 9, was a member of West Gwillimbury's first Council in 1850, and donated land for the Anglican Church on his lot. Other family members served on Council in following years. his son Burt built the red brick house across Barrie St. that is still standing today. Another of William's sons, William Davis, built what was later known as the Stoddart-Ritchie house on the south side of 88 - now demolished. Whether the family name was spelled Stoddars,Stodders or Stoddart, members of this family were all significant contributors to the early settlement and governance of Bradford and West Gwillimbury. Most recently a representative of this family has been Canada's Privacy Commissioner. A symbol of the pioneering years is the stately home, built circa 1860, formerly known as The Oaks and now called the Stoddart-Reynolds house. A solid brick, full 2-storey, 3-over-3 bay front, typical of other homes of the period, it was built in the Georgian Vernacular style, with a Regency door case, and bow-roofed verandah. Two end fireplaces still exist on the main floor - the eastern fireplace with the original mantelpiece in place. Some interior design still survives, and the home has been well-cared for over the years. In fact, the pre-confederation house, associated with a prominent pioneer family, displays notable architectural significance - truly a home worth preserving, as part of West Gwillimbury and Bradford's Heritage.

Municipality :
Community : Bradford
Lot :
Concession :
Description : A copy of the May 31, 1906 Bradford Witness owned by Rose Magloughlen, who inherited from her aunt, Florence Batchelor. Rose loaned the copy to the Historical Association, which had it copied and compiled in book format. The edition was written 102 years ago, when Bradford was almost 50 years old - but still had a population of only around 1,000. There were 4 churches, a public school and a high school, one policeman, and a whole variety of shopkeepers and service providers. Travel was by real horse power, and about this time, the wooden sidewalks in town were replaced with smooth cement - but you still had to dodge the puddles and muddy spots when crossing dirt streets on a rainy day. This "illustrated edition" of The Witness was special and expensive to print, because it not only told of the many business and professional offices and manufacturing works within the Town, it contained many pictures that had to be engraved prior to being printed. The editor, Mr. Edmund Garrett, wrote in his preamble, "It is hoped, however, that this number will possess vastly more interest than that of any publication ever gotten up in the village - interesting alike to present dwellers in our midst and to the thousands who have gone from us to dwell in other places." Even today, folks returning to Bradford to search for their roots are surprised to find a story and a picture of an earlier generation of their family in this publication - including information about Bradford's very first land developer, Letitia Magee. The book was out of print, but the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association decided to reprint it as another reminder of the past, on the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Bradford. Copies are only $10 each.

Municipality :
Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury
Lot :
Concession :
Description : A Glimpse of History

When Lucy Shepherd (nee Fairbank) lived in the old Steel House at Steel's Corners (Highway 11 and Concession 14), she and her siblings discovered a dusty, calfbound volume in the attic of the home.

They played with the book, wrote in a few I.O.U.s and admired the elegant handwriting. It wasn't until years later, long after the Steel House had been torn down for the widening of Highway 11, that Shepherd realized she had something out of the ordinary.

The book turned out to be the Day book of blacksmith John Steel. Dating from 18855 to 1869, it itemizes the daily and monthly accounts of residents like Robert Kneeshaw, Joseph Fennel, James and Robert Bell.

Prices ranged from 10 cents to mend a pitchfork and 25 cents to replace a horseshoe, to $1.75 for repairs to a "thrashing mashen" (threshing machine). The accounts also contain a price list for construction materials for a new home in the late 1860's - including $123.41 for lumber, $19.50 for hardware, and $11.51 for the glass and "putey".

The prices seem unimaginably low by today's standards, and it is a surprise to note that over the 14 years spanned by the accounts, the blacksmith's prices did not go up.

Worker Harold.

Municipality :
Community : Bradford
Lot :
Concession :
Description : Twenty-nine years ago, Ross and Shirley Klubine took over the Klubine family farm on Highway 11, just north of Bradford. The beautiful brick farmhouse, built circa 1850, had become "somewhat decrepit." They replaced the front entry and, using family photographs, repaired and restored the verandah. They opened their doors to visitors, starting the first "Bed and Breakfast" establishment in Simcoe County. A sign proclaiming the "Country Guest Home" went up at the end of a drive lined with majestic maple trees, and immediately attracted the attention of the local health inspector. Both Ross and Shirley were involved in the venture. Seven years ago Ross passed away, and was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, on land that is still part of the farm. Now her baked goods, and fresh jams, are two of the staples on the breakfast table at the Guest Home, that bring visitors back, again and again. The Country Guest Home is open all year round, but summer is the peak season. Rates have remained reasonable, and include a full home cooked breakfast.

Bradford's Bertha Langford celebrated her 90th birthday last week with more than 200 family and friends in attendance. The energetic lady still loves to bowl. Happy birthday!

The survey line for the 8th line in West Gwillimbury, looking west from Lots 10 and 11, Concession 8.

This image documents the 8th Canadian Field Ambulance at the time of the signing of the armistice ending WWI on November 11, 1918 and can be found in a war photograph album belonging to Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Raymond Selby. The photographs in the album are both original photographs taken by Dr. Selby and copies of official Canadian military photographs. Selby was born in and grew up in the Bradford West Gwillimbury area before moving to Calgary, Alberta. Many of the men pictured were awarded medals in recognition of honour and/or bravery.

Top Row: Sgt. Maguire, Sgt. F. E. Dutton, Cpl. Brewster, Sgt. Munis, Sgt. Davidson, R.S.M. Coward, R.S.M. G. Taylor, Staff-Sgt. Graydon, Sgt. Nash, Cpl. Tillett, Cpl. Guthrie, Sgt. Patience
Middle Row: Capt. R. M. Harvie, Capt. A. S. Lamb, Capt. D.C. Malcolm, Major W. G. Cosbie, Lt-Col. E. R. Selby, Major W. J. MacKensie, Capt. J. F. Sparrow, Capt. Knight, Capt. Christie
Bottom Row: Sgt. H. Hay, Sgt. Montgomery, Cpl. Clements, Sgt. Valiquet, Sgt. Wyers, Sgt. Cowan, Sgt. Coleman, Sgt. Holding, Cpl. Lean

Looking west on the 7th Line of Tecumseth. Note the board sidewalk along the road leading to Trinity Anglican Church (about 1850s).