The Bradford Witness was the local newspaper. It was first published on February 20, 1879 by Mr. E. Garrett. He was born in Hampshire, England, but settled in Bradford with his parents when he was only one year old in 1856. Before starting The Witness, he worked for Mr. Broughton who published the South Simcoe News, another Bradford newspaper. The fire of 1892 destroyed the offices of The Witness, and the two papers amalgamated, with E. Garrett as proprietor.
"The paper you are holding today marks a milestone in the history of The Bradford Witness. It is the first Witness and Scope to come off our brand new King press. Here King field rep. Bill Runnels and Witness pressman Gerard Perrell make a few adjustments during a run on Topic this week."
"Stewart Scott McKenzie, a man who was a strong and active force in Bradford for more than 35 years as a politician and publisher for the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News, died last week in York County Hospital in Newmarket, last Thursday following a short illness. Mr. McKenzie was born in the Village of Paisley in Bruce County where he grew up and was educated. The former publisher of the Witness has a long tradition in newspapering and was one of four sons born to a former publisher of the Paisley Advocate. Mr. McKenzie served in the Canadian Army during World War I. When he returned after the war he resumed his newspaper career and joined the production department of the old Detroit Times. In 1931, he and his wife Ina, also a native of Paisley, moved to Bradford and purchased the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News from Publisher O.M. Seim. That began a career in this town that stretched over 35 years until the couple retired in 1968 following the sale of the Witness to Gerry and Nona Barker. Funeral services for the man who devoted so much of his life to his community were held on Saturday morning in the chapel of the Lathangue and Skwarchuk Funeral Home on Simcoe Street, in Bradford."
This collection of newspaper articles is based on the Office Window column from the Bradford Witness & South Simcoe Times. This column covers a variety of topics, from daily events to local history tidbits. They also give insight into the content of the newspapers, great for further research. Currently, editions from the year 1964 are digitized.
Late Mrs. (John) Stibbs, her daughter, Florence (Mrs. Geo. Fogel) and son, Norman. The late Walter Probert was the sign painter. The sign in the window offers "$50 reward for Robber", as stated by Mrs. Fogel in later years. S.S. McKenzie owned the storefront later. Walter Probert was the sign painter.
