A photograph of the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library's display about the Local History Collection at the unveiling ceremony for the Bradford railway sign hanging in the Library on February 25, 2017. The sign was donated by the Bradford West Gwillimbury Local History Association.

This is the Holland Street Theatre

Article of brief history on the Great Fire of Bradford (1871). Scanned from a donation of the Bradford Today supplement to the Bradford Witness.

History Group is Established

An historical society for the Scotch Settlement was established last week at Fred C. Cook Senior Public School.

Mrs. Eleanor Reid, of Lefroy, a descendant of one of the Scotch settlers, was named the president of the group, and Dave Sheppard, was named secretary.

The group will gather historical data pertaining to the history of the settlers, from their tragic exile from Scotland to their settlement on the lands in this area.

The most important priority for the group now is to collect all of the information concerning the Scotch Settlement that they can.

Mr. Sheppard said it was crucial that the information was gathered soon, because much of it is in the minds of elderly people in the community, and if they fail to pass it on, it could be lost forever.

Mrs. Reid said she was "really quite pleased with the turnout last week and the interest and enthusiasm shown."

She said the Scotch Settlement was one of Ontario's most important historical sites, and the story of the hardships of the settlers is not only historically interesting, but also romantic.

Many descendants of the settlers still live in the area, and former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker also traces his family back to the Scotch settlers.

The historical society is appealing to anyone who has information, photos or other memorabilia, to contact Mrs. Reid at Box 148, Lefroy.

The next meeting of the society will be held in the Scotch Settlement church June 10.

Article about early settlement in Bradford and West Gwillimbury. It also touches on the early education systems in this area. Scanned from a donation of the Bradford Today supplement to the Bradford Witness.

Photograph of the Village Inn Hotel on the southeast corner of Holland Street and Simcoe Road. The Village Inn exterior was renovated in the 2000s, and has been in operation since the early 1900s.

Part of the mural on the south of 13 John St. This section depicts the arrival of the first train to Bradford on June 15th, 1853. The bottom postcard or the 'back' of the top one states: "Bradford was ten years old at the time of Confederation, having been incorporated as a village in 1857."

Part of the mural on the south of 13 John St. This stamp depicts the life of Andrew and Helen Cilipka on the Holland Marsh. Andrew and Helen were farmers on the land from 1938-1985.