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.
Article featuring the centennial anniversary of the Bradford Witness's merged partner, the South Simcoe News. "One hundred years ago, in 1865, the first issue of The South Simcoe News was published in Bradford and that is the centennial anniversary being marked by this issue of The Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News, but newspaper life in this town began before 1865."
"Bradford's town council has marked this Centennial year in very suitable manner by doing a very complete "face-lifting" job at the venerable town hall. A complete and permanent refinishing of the exterior of the building, together with a few needed repairs, and a paint job, where paint can be applied, has worked wonders." ...
"All aboard! That was heard one year ago on April 1 as Canadian National Railways opened up its commuter service between Bradford and Toronto. The first anniversary was yesterday [April 3rd, 1975]. "Initially there were 95 commuters using the service in both directions," said spokesman Morris Simms of CN. "Currently 190 commuters are using the train in both directions." The train leaves Bradford at 7:11 a.m. arriving at Union Station at 8:20 a.m. The return train leaves Unions at 5:15 p.m. and arrives in Bradford at 6:27 p.m. There is a double fare system in effect for the commuter train. The single fare one way is $2.10. A flash card good for one month can be purchased for $52. This lowers the cost to about $1.25 pert trip. The strike of the Toronto Transit Commission last year increased the daily number of people taking the train. "The strike increased the passengers to about 582 going to Toronto during the day and 563 returnin," added Simms. The number of coaches was increased from two to nine but now the train has four coaches with a seating capacity of about 240. During the strike 20 people were taking the train from Bradford each day. The number of people using the service has doubled over the year and about 10 people are now using the train. "The use is varying," stated the CN spokesman, "it is slow but is increasing." "
"On Sunday, July 23rd, 1967, the Auld Kirk in Scotch Settlement will hold a centennial service. This church, for many years has been closed but on that day memories will be revived by the old and the not-so-old as they greet one another and talk about the past and the days when their parents and grandparents lived there. A few words about the Scotch Settlement, its two churches and the people of the community may recall something of the past." ...
Article features news and the history of Victoria Day, questions of creating a horticultural society in Bradford, county boundary issues, talk of a Centennial Park, and new copies of a historical map of Simcoe County and of York County obtained.