Event Date : Saturday, May 05, 1973
Event Type : Marriage

Description : Joan Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Cairns of Bradford, to James Leonard, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rose of Toronto. The wedding took place in Bradford United Church. Rev. Robert Chapman officiated. Matron of honour was Mrs. Carl Cairns of Scarborough and bridesmaids were Mrs. Charles Janes of Toronto, Mrs. W. Lainson and Miss Joyce Cairns of Bradford. Donald Leddy of Markham was best man and C. Janes of Toronto, C. Cairns of Scarborough and Keith Cairns of Bradford were ushers. Mr. and Mrs. Rose will reside on Sherwood Forest Dr., Markham.

Event Date : Wednesday, July 04, 1973
Event Type : Death

Description : Died at York County Hospital, Newmarket, in his 90th year. Of R.R. 2, Bradford, beloved husband of the late Mary Evans and dear father of Grace (Mrs. Herb Black), Stroud, Irene (Mrs. Victor Turner), Bradford, Clarence, R.R. 2, Bradford, Ernest, Ottawa and the late Ruth and Joseph. Loving brother of Harry, Bradford, Eli (Mrs. Wes Adair), Newmarket, Jessie (Mrs. Ivan Metcalfe), Bradford. Predeceased by 1 brother and 3 sisters. Also survived by 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Resting at the Lewis Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Service in the chapel Saturday at 2 p.m. Interment Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date : Friday, December 28, 1973
Event Type : Marriage

Description : Linda Jean, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Linham of Limehouse, to Keith Kneeshaw Cairns of Bradford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Cairns. The wedding took place at the Limehouse Presbyterian Church. Rev. Peter Barrow officiated. Velma Linham, sister of the bride, was the maid of honour. Joyce Cairns and Joan Rose, sisters of the groom, were bridesmaids. John Van Dyk was the best man. Rob Linham, brother of the bride, and Jim Rose, brother-in-law of the groom, were ushers. Mr. and Mrs. Cairns will reside at 78 Rexway Dr., Georgetown. The bride is a teacher at Glen Williams Public School.

Event Date : Thursday, January 31, 1974
Event Type : Death

"Walter Bak, well-known marsh farmer and produce stand operator, died at York County Hospital, Newmarket, on Thursday, January 31.A native of Chocznia, near Krakow in Poland, where he was involved in mixed farming, Mr. Bak emigrated to Canada in 1926. After working here for 10 years, he returned to his native land and the family he had left behind. Three years later, with his wife, Maria, and two of their five children, Theresa and John, he returned to Canada, to see if his family would adapt to life in Canada. Although he intended to bring over his three other children, Wladzia, Joseph and Stanley, the Second World War intervened and made emigration impossible. After share cropping in the Blenheim area during the war, Mr. Bak brought his family to Bradford in the spring of 1945. Three years after the war ended, sons Joseph and Stanley rejoined the family, although their sister Wladzia, did not come to Canada until 1959, when she arrived here with her husband and family. Two more children, Antoinette and Casmir, were born in Canada. In Bradford, Mr. Bak and his family began farming in the marsh and, after a few years, began selling produce to passers-by from a roadside stand. As the family business blossomed, the produce stand was expanded into a full building. Although he went into semi-retirement last year, Mr. Bak was still involved in the business and played an important part in the planning of the huge produce market now under construction on Bridge St. Mr. Bak is predeceased by his wife, Maria; and survived by three daughters - Mrs. Wladzia Balon of Bradford, Mrs. Theresa Sarabura, Toronto and Mrs. Antoinette Alexandrowicz, Kingston and four sons - Joseph, Peterborough, Father Stanley, Oblate of Mary Immaculate, John, Ottawa, and Casmir, Bradford. He is also survived by 26 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.Requiem High Mass was held at the Holy Martyrs of Japan Church in Bradford on Monday, February 4, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill."

Event Date : Thursday, June 06, 1974
Event Type : Birth

Description : A son to Norval and Pat Botham (nee Weir), a brother for Laurie Anne.

Event Date : Sunday, April 06, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : A former Bradford resident passed away April 6 in Peterborough. Mr. Gordon S. Faris, 66, died in Peterborough and was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Bradford April 9. Mr. Faris was born and educated in Bradford and attended the University of Toronto. Mr. Faris is survived by his wife Doris, son Paul of Scarborough, daughter Mary Lou of Ottawa and brother Murray of R.R. 1, Bradford. Mr. Faris retired in 1973 from Ontario Hydro where he was employed for 40 years as an electrical engineer.

Event Date : Thursday, June 19, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Stewart Scott McKenzie, a man who was a strong and active force in Bradford for more than 35 years as a politician and publisher of 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 had 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. During that time Mr. McKenzie involved himself not only in the production and technical side of his business, while his wife handled the paper's editorial department, but also in his community. Mr. McKenzie became active in local politics and served as a school board trustee and member of Bradford's village council. In 1937, he was one of the charter members of the Bradford Lions Club and served as one of the organization's first presidents. He was also a member of Simcoe Lodge #73 of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. In addition, he served as an Elder in Bradford's United Church. 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 & Skwarchuk Funeral Home on Simcoe Street, in Bradford.The service was conducted by Reverend Robert Chapman. Pallbearers were Norman Collings, Keith Langford, Bradford Mayor Joe Magani, Brock Evans, Charles Evans and Deputy Reeve Ken Wood. Brad Walker, George Jackson and Clarence Ritchie served as flower bearers. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. Mr. McKenzie is survived by his wife Ina, and three brothers.

Event Date : Thursday, June 19, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Bradford lost a dedicated citizen last week when Stewart Scott McKenzie died in York County Hospital, Newmarket. For many years, Mr. McKenzie and his wife Ina, were the editorial voice of Bradford when they operated the Bradford Witness Publishing Company for a period of 37 years. Stew was a popular member of the community, working not only as publisher of the flourishing little paper but serving on the village council, the arena board and in his church. His skills in the printing trade were well known throughout the district as the publishing company served many customers over a wide area. But Stewart McKenzie's real mark on life was his zest for living. A veteran of World War I, Stew returned suffering from impaired hearing and the shock of living man's inhumanity to man. While this experience had a profound effect on his life, Stew managed to present a sunny disposition and was well loved by the community. Stewart McKenzie was the kind of man who helped make this community strong and his country strong. He felt a strong sense of responsibility toward his fellow man. Above all he was a newspaperman and one who was dedicated to making our world a little better place in which to live.He will be sorely missed.

Event Date : Friday, October 17, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Vic Turner, veteran councillor and past reeve of West Gwillimbury, died at his home in Bradford on Friday, October 17, at age 85. Mr. Turner, whose son Art is now Reeve of Bradford, came to Canada in 1907 at the age of 16. He came alone, leaving behind his family in South Chinford, just outside London. Mr. Turner first came to Toronto, then moved up to Bradford where he worked on the Pulford family farm on the 12th Line of West Gwillimbury. Bobby Pulford, a son of the family, is now coach of the Los Angeles Rams. After taking jobs in Toronto and in the west of Canada, Mr. Turner moved back to West Gwillimbury and farmed there for many years. He married three times, his first wife being Esther Brown; his second marriage to Elizabeth Riley was in August 1921. During their long marriage, the Turners farmed locally, then moved to Bradford in 1949. The second Mrs. Turner died in 1962. In 1963, Mr. Turner married for a third time, to Irene Brown of West Gwillimbury. Mr. Turner is survived by five children: Mrs. Margaret Summerville of Guelph, Bruce Turner of Kemptville near Ottawa, Art Turner of Bradford, Doug Turner of Timmins and Mrs. Dorothy Hodgson of Thunder Bay; and by 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Mr. Turner first became involved in local politics when he became a councillor in West Gwillimbury around 1937. He stayed on council becoming reeve in 1946 and holding this position in 1947 and '48.Mr. Turner left active politics and worked for Holland River Gardens (now Hardee Farms) following this. He retired from work seven years ago. While working at Hardee, Mr. Turner was appointed to the Bradford Public Utilities Commission in 1951. Appointment to the commission was then a council decision and not an elected post. Mr. Turner's proudest achievement was opening up Simcoe Road to the marsh and pushing for a bridge to be built linking the marsh to the main Bradford area, thus making it possible for the marsh to be developed for commercial farming. While serving on the Public Utilities Commission, Mr. Turner was instrumental in the decision to buy the present PUC building on Barrie Street. Mr. Turner was also involved in the Bradford Masonic Lodge, but his main interest all his life was in the marsh and the people living and farming it. The funeral service was held at the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, Simcoe St., Bradford, followed by burial at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Monday, October 20.

Event Date : Thursday, February 20, 1975
Event Type : In Memoriam

Description : In loving memory of a dear husband, father and grandfather, who passed away February 20, 1975 - Lovingly remembered by wife Elizabeth, Edward, Margaret, Darlene, Cathy, Sherri and Steven.