Photograph of John A. Collis, soldier from World War II. John was born on October 14th, 1915 in Lowville, Ontario to parents George and Florence May Collis. He later married Dorothy Ruby in Bradford, Ontario and had a daughter, Joan Yvonne Collis, and a son, John Neill Collis. He was killed in action on July 25th, 1944 in Caen, France, and is buried in the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados, France.
Complete index of all miscellaneous microfilms available in the George and Helen Jackson Heritage Room, including:
Assessment Rolls for Tay Township (1940, 1943)
Land grants for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (1914)
Innisfil Township Minute Books
Indexes to Births and Marriages in the Barrie Newspapers (1911 – 1930) *Maclean’s Magazine (1979-1986)
Commemorative silver dollar of the Town of Bradford's 125th anniversary, from the Bradford West Gwillimbury 25th anniversary of amalgamation display exhibit
Deerhurst - from 1830, mail was received for the early settlers at John Gill's beer shanty at Deerhurst on the Penetang Road, midway between line 12 and line 13. On April 1st, 1863 and official post office opened near this same location and served this community until December 1912. In 1830 James Tindall, who lived across the road from Gill's, donated land from his lot 16, con. 12 farm for the first Ebenezer Wesleyan Methodist Church and cemetery. New churches were built about 1850 and again in 1880. This church was closed in 1966. A small hamlet grew at this location which still remains today.
The hamlet of Coulson's Hill was named after the Coulson family who settled here in 1822. They donated the land for the two church properties and cemeteries. The Anglican church was built in 1854, the Presbyterian church in1857. The hamlet was the home for a hotel, stagecoach shop, a blacksmith shop and an Orange Hall.
Photograph of Jack Geddes, soldier in World War II who lost his life in battle. Jack was the son of George and Julia Ethel (Robinson) Geddes, born on May 13th, 1917 in Bradford, Ontario. . Jack worked as a Sub-Foreman for a Barrie construction company prior to marrying Mabel Elizabeth Copeland in May, 1940, and they had a daughter Gwendoline Elizabeth. He enlisted on November 27, 1942 specifically for the RCAF. Jack earned the rank of Sergeant in October of 1943 and was an Air Gunner for the RCAF. He and his flight crew did not return from their mission to Revigny, France. They were presumed dead until his body was found and registered through the Imperial War Graves Commission at Auger St Vincent Cemetery in Oise, France. He died July 19, 1944, and his wife received his Operational Wings recognition in honour of his service.
