The building seen in this photo (from 1995) was once located on the north side at 9 John St. West. It was a long, one-storey, frame house with a verandah on the south side and a small porch on the east side (facing Barrie Street). Dick Crake and his sister lived here for a number of years after he moved from a large house on the northwest corner of Holland and Church Streets. They both died here around the time of World War II. John Metcalfe later moved here from a farm on Highway 88 (at the west end of town). He lived in the house as a bachelor until his death. The house was eventually demolished and the Bradford Post Office was built by Art and Leonard Saint at this location. (1, 2)
An article about the creation of a "Booketeria" in order to help provide library services to the Bond Head area.
"What is a Booketeria? It's a self-serve mini-library, a new and innovative way to make library resources more available in a small community. With the help of the Bond Head Post Mistress Judith Baguely, room was found in the tiny Bond Head Post Office for shelving that holds approximately 450 paperback books, ranging from adult titles to kids' literature, and from romance and murder mysteries, to the latest works by Canadian authors..."
This is Bradford's first building solely dedicated to a Post Office, built in 1936 at 22 Barrie Street. It was designed by Gordon S. Adamson, and contracted by J. Saint of Bradford. Prior to this, the post office was housed in a shared building on Holland Street on the current day Century 21 parking lot.
Article from the Bradford Witness - May 31 1906 edition on H.S. Broughton, postmaster and librarian of Bradford. This edition provides many biographies and photographs of prominent citizens at the time.
"Harold Stephens, rural mail carrier on the Lefroy route for 22 years, died January 13 in his 71st year. He had been in failing health for some time and for that reason gave up the mail route two years ago. Mr. Stephens had seen many changes in Innisfil since starting to drive the mail about 1952. Most of the 18-mile route was gravel then. Initially, he called at 75 boxes and when he retired he was serving 150 boxholders. In an interview with Scope at that time, he recalled gasoline was only 25 cents a gallon when he first took over the mail route. The deceased saw the end of the era of mail coming to Lefroy by train and the start of truck service. He used to meet the train at 11 o'clock each morning in the early years and part of his contract included delivery of the mail bag for Churchill to the post office there. On retirement he noted the vast decrease in parcels from Eaton's and Simpson's over the years. Harold Stephen's moved to Lot 20, Concession 4 in 1931 and upon retirement from farming a few years ago, built a new house on the farm lane. He grew up at Churchill on the 5th Line, west of Highway 11 where his parents, Llewyn and Lizzie Stephens farmed. He is ervived by his wife, Phyliss and daughter Mary Ann and several step children. A brother, Jim and sister, Doreen also survive. He was predeceased by brothers, Fred and Glen and sister, Eleanor."
This is a picture of Holland Street looking west when it was just a dirt road. Notice the trees that used to line the street. The white building on the right was the post office and up to 1915 was home to the first library in town. The dark building beside it was a laundry .
