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The Bradford Witness decided to release a series of articles from local townspeople on the history of certain events in Bradford and West Gwillimbury's time. This week, the Holland River is the topic.

The Bradford Witness decided to release a series of articles from local townspeople on the history of certain events in Bradford and West Gwillimbury's time. This week, the Fire of May 25, 1871, and the businesses which rebuilt on Holland Street after the fire, is the topic.

The Bradford Witness decided to release a series of articles from local townspeople on the history of certain events in Bradford and West Gwillimbury's time. This week, the Fire of May 25, 1871, and the businesses which rebuilt on Holland Street after the fire, is the topic.

"No cause has yet been determined for a stubborn blaze which broke out in a house at 16 John Street East in Bradford last Tuesday.
The Bradford Fire Department was called out at about 4 pm to quell the blaze which broke out in a back apartment, occupied by Dick Gullinger.
Fire Chief Harold Boyd said the whole apartment was in flamed by the time the firefighters arrived on the scene, and there was no hope of saving it.
The back wall of the house was also badly damaged, and thick smoke made the rest of the house uninhabitable for the occupants of the other two apartments, John Faria Jr., and Louis Dasiba.
"It was a tough one to put out," Chief Boyd said, explaining there were many false ceilings in the old house which had to be torn away to get at the flames.
The chief estimated it took about three hours to put the fire out. The occupants managed to remove most of their belongings during the blaze, and there were no injuries. There has been no estimate of damage."

Article on the fire which destroyed the old Market building on Simcoe Road, just south of the Bradford Community Centre.

"Bradford's fire siren apparently is not in working order, and the old bell, which used to cause a big alarm, now gives only a faint tinkle, and the few who do hear it, hear so little they are seldom sure just what they head. all in all, our fire alarm system is not alarming.
Saturday firement had to attend Kapisak's vegetable booth when fire cause considerable damage. had it not been for the sire on the fire truck it is doubtful if even the main street business people would have known there was a fire.
Most of us are interested enough in the fate which befalls the other and want to lend a helping hand if fire is destroying a friend's property and would therefore encourage the idea of the repair or replacement of the fire siren."

"The new fire alarm siren has been installed and some time Friday evening an alarm will be sounded to test the system and also the response of the firemen to the new alarm.
The brigade will hold a meeting during the evening to discuss general business."

This article relates to the fire of Bradford on June 24th, 1862, which originated in an unknown stable in the main city sector. There is no lasting record of a newspaper published during the week of the fire.

"Fire Inquest

On Friday morning last [June 27th], Corner Allen, with a Jury, held an inquiry into the causes of the late fire. About a dozen witnesses were examined, after which the jury returned the following verdict:
'We, the Jury empannelled to inquire into the causes or origin of the fire that occurred in this village on the night of the 24th [June] inst., having heard the testimony brought before us, are of the opinion that such fire originated through accident, whose cause is unknown to this Jury.
-A.S. Warburton, Foreman'
No evidence was adduced to show that there was either a candle or lamp in the stable on the evening in question."

Recounts the fire at John Kirkpatrick's Hotel, originally the Burns' Hotel, in Bond Head on September 23, 1854.

"The G.T.R. freight sheds at Holland Landing narrowly escaped being consumed by fire at 12 o'clock on Saturday [April 29th]. After doing about $100 damage to the roof the fire got under control. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a passing locomotive."