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Event Date : Saturday, July 27, 1957
Event Type : Death

Description : The end came suddenly for Bradford's veteran, and well-known townsman, Benjamin Briton (B. B.) Collings, last Saturday morning. During the past year Mr. Collings had shown some signs of his advanced years, but the firm step, the indifference to weather conditions, and the ready reply to all greetings, remained with him to the last. He had not been well for a week or more, but on Thursday he was downstairs in his home and returned to his room unaided. Friday he acknowledged he was tired and stayed in bed and on Saturday morning he was dead. He never had pain. He kept going to the last, and just quit. B. B. Collings was looking forward to the Centennial celebration and meeting old friends, and to many who are returning, Bradford has lost one of the interests for them, in his passing. Few will disagree that he was the most colourful character in Bradford. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He had a greeting for everyone, a greeting which seldom was particularly complimentary, but because it was B. B. Collings' remark, it was accepted with a laugh. Few days passed that those whose duties caused them to be about the street, did not have a few words with B. B.
"Mr. Collings was born in Bradford on August 9, 1876 the youngest member of a family of sixteen. From childhood days he was working. He told stories of the days when Amsterdam was a thriving village with its mills and he was an errand boy down there. The Collings family was associated with the Holland Marsh and did a profitable business in cutting marsh hay and selling this hay for packing and mattress making. B. B. decided that if this hay was worth Toronto mattress makers transporting it to Toronto he better get into the business. In the 1890's he went to Toronto and learned the trade and came back to Bradford and opened a little mattress making factory here where he employed some of the lacrosse players of the day. Today it is common practice for sport enthusiasts to give employment to star players but B. B. Collings began that nearly 60 years ago. He then went into the furniture and undertaking business taking a course in embalming. Then back to the marsh hay business and commercial fishing and his final business venture was the draining of what was named the Colbar Marsh area a big portion of which is now Federal Farms' gardens and in this he was singularly successful. This last project was accomplished after he was in his seventies.Mr. Collings and his men were recognized in the Lake Simcoe district as an able life-saving crew. Their business as commercial fishermen took them to all parts of the lake and the river and they were familiar with the water. Few accidents or tragedies have occured on the river or lake to which Mr. Collings and his men were not called to lend their help and they have many rescues to their credit.Mr. Collings was always keenly interested in sport particularly lacrosse and had served in official capacity on various lacrosse clubs. But few sporting events occurred in Bradford throughout the years which he did not attend whether hockey ball or lacrosse.Mr. Collings served on the Bradford Public Utilities Commission for several years and also on Bradford Board of Education.In September 1902 Mr. Collings married Etta May Waldruff of Bradford who survives him with their family of two daughters and one son namely Bernice (Mrs. Gordon Crutcher) of Thornhill; Kathleen (Mrs. Ken Blevins) of Toronto and Norman E. of Bradford. Five grandchildren also survive: Gordon Stephen and Tony Crutcher Tom Collings and Mary Jane Collings. Of the family of sixteen only two survive Dan Collings of Bradford and Libby (Mrs. Selby) of Eston Saskatchewan.The funeral was held from Bradford United Church yesterday afternoon. The services were taken by Rev. F. G. MacTavish assisted by Rev. H. P. Maitland of the Presbyterian Church and Rev. H. G. Blake of Toronto. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The pallbearers were C. T. S. Evans, A. L. Veale, Fred Collings, Roy Collings, Phil Latchman and James R. Webb."

"Fred Cook, a man who for many years was a social and political influence in Bradford, died last Thursday in York County Hospital at 73. Mr. Cook was admitted to the hospital April 6 suffering from a heart attack. Funeral services were held in Trinity Anglican Church, Bradford, on Monday afternoon with the Rector, Rev. Jack House and Bishop Hunt, a lifelong friend of Mr. Cook's, conducting the service. Hundreds of friends and associates gathered in the little church on Church St. that Fred Cook served so well. Mayor Joe Magani led a delegation of members of council and the town administrative staff. Many officials representing the various surrounding municipalities also attended the special funeral service. During his 73 years, Fred Cook's life revolved around the town of his birth, Bradford."

Mourners gather at the funeral service held for Mr. Rowe who died last Thursday.

"Three Schomberg men died at the railway level crossing immediately south of Beeton C.P.R. station, early Friday morning. The triple fatality left 10 young children fatherless." ...

Event Date : Sunday, January 07, 1951
Event Type : Death

Description : A native of Cookstown, Ont., Miss Alzada K. Neilly passed away in her sleep at her place of residence in Toronto on January 7, 1951. Death was due to coronary thrombosis. ...

"Nine-year-old Eric Bradbury, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bradbury pf Belle Ewart, drowned Saturday in Lake Simcoe while paddling on an inner tube at Belle Ewart Beach. ..."

Event Date : Monday, June 26, 1933
Event Type : Death

Mr. Joseph Park passed away early on Monday morning following many weeks of sickness, which from the first was diagnosed as his last illness. Mr. Park was in his seventy-fourth year and for a number of years conducted a jewellry business here. The Funeral takes place this afternoon, a private service being held at his late residence followed by a public service in Trinity Anglican church. Interment is being made in Mount Pleasant cemetery, Toronto. He is survived by his daughter, May, who has been her father's housekeeper and into whose life his passing will necessitate a trying readjustment, and two sons, William of Windsor and Frank of Bradford.

From page 5: "At Bradford, on Monday, June 26th, 1933, Joseph Park, in his 74th year. Funeral on Wednesday. Private service at the home followed by a public service at Trinity Church at 1.30. Interment in Mount Pleasant cemetery, Toronto."

"Life ended suddenly on Monday afternoon for a 12-year-old Holland Marsh girl who went swimming in the Holland River. Betty Lowder, R.R.2, Newmarket, was swimming under the bridge at the intersection of No. 3 Concession and the Graham sideroad with her brothers and sisters, when she submerged in the middle of the murky river in about eight feet of water. There were no adults present..."

"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.

"John Allan Law, 52, was killed outside his home at Stroud on Thursday night a few hours after he had attended the funeral of a lifelong friend. Law was struck by a car after he stepped off a bus that had brought him from Peterborough where he had attended the funeral."