"The Bradford Lions Club went over the top in the Lions Pool project with the airplane draw last September. The club presented the balance of $50,000 to Bradford Mayor Roy Gordon at a special meeting Monday. From left, club president John Rutherford, vice-president and draw chairman Gerard Van Alebeek, Mayor Roy Gordon, draw co-chairman Jack Armstrong."

"Honorable Earl Rowe, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, was guest speaker at the Fisher's Corners Womens Institute Meeting January 20. A great supporter of women's institutes, Mr. Rowe spoke to the women and their husbands for about 45 minutes on current issues like the Quebec problem and reminsced about politicking in the area in horse and buggy das. He expressed the need for multi-lingualism in Canada, rather than just bilingualism, explaining that Canada was a land of many nationalities and not just French and English. Well qualified to discuss national affairs, Mr. Rowe said he had personally known and worked with eight of Canada's prime ministers, including Pierre Trudeau. Described as a very warm and down-to-earth person by the women, Mr. Rowe is currently in retirement at his farm near Newton Robinson. He told the group he spends much of his time exercising his horses and reading."

"The Tee-We-Gwill chapter of the Women's Institute held their first meeting with this year's officers last Monday night at the home of Mrs. Barbara Wilcox on Beeton Road. The Women's Institute was originally founded in Ontario to educate women in rural areas in the homemaking field. Since then it has become a world-wide community services oriented organization. The Tec-We-Gwill chapter sponsors a Can-Save Child in Austria, as well as sponsoring the Tec-Gwill 4-H Club for young women."

Back Row: Mary Orr, Marguerite Ramsay, Margaret Jessop
Front Row: Lois West, Jean Calder, Barbara Wilcox

"Newly elected Lions Club executive are left to right [front row]: Secretary Eric Hall; Second Vice President John Rutherford; First Vice President Bernie Horne; President Mac Lewis; Immediate Past President Jim Dodds; Third Vice President Gerry Van Alebeek; Treasurer George Robertson. Back row [left to right]: Director Gerry Barker; Tail Twister Joe Alebeek; Director Bill Melbourne; Lion Tamer Bill Lotto; Directors Joe Magani, Merle Woodcock and Jack Armstrong."

"The officers of Simcoe South Women's Institute posed for a picture following installation ceremonies May 6 at the district annual meeting held at Bond Head. Front row: [left to right] Mrs. Keith Kneeshaw, Mrs. Paul Tipping, Mrs. Everett McVety, Mrs. Cecil Reynolds, Mrs. Donald Monkman, Mrs. Wilbert Trotter, Mrs. William Sutherland. Second row: Mrs. Merven Jessop, Mrs. Irwin Hounsome, Mrs. Albert Woodcock, Mrs. James Church, Mrs. Al Tizzard, Mrs. James Crosbie, Mrs. Douglas Montgomery, Mrs. Owen Bell, Mrs. Allan Orr and Mrs. John Rumble."

"Bradford Women's Institute last Wednesday celebrated 50 years "For Home and Country", the motto of the world-wide organization. Long time member Mrs. H.L. Blackwell cuts the anniversary cake fashioned in the shape of the figure 50, as Bradford W.I. President Mrs. Dan Clements looks on."

The Queen’s Hotel (located at 22 Holland St. West) was built circa 1850, and was originally the Western Hotel. This photo (taken in the fall of 1995) shows the structure just before a major renovation. The hotel went “dry” during World War I. Bradford, like all of Ontario, was experiencing prohibition (even though Bradford had voted “wet”). The building originally had two storeys. A third floor and a flat roof were added later. It was heated with an old steam engine that had the undercarriage removed. The engine first burnt 4’ stacks of hardwood, then coal, and finally, oil. Eventually a new furnace was installed (most likely natural gas). The building was always warm and thought of as a home away from home.
Harry Lang, Celina and their children (Evelyn, George and Audrey) moved here from North Bay and bought the building in the 1920’s. They ran the Temperance House, and a board and dining service at this location. They had long-time help and boarders. Little John Cook ran a shop selling ice cream, chocolate bars, and smokes on the east side (down one step). A bus stop was added when bus service started. Len and Art Saint put a cement addition on the back of the building around 1938. At the rear, there was a chicken house, a roofed, open shed, and a laneway. Another shed ran south, and to the west was an ice house. There was open space to the north before the laneway and a barn for hay and horses. The barn had two stories and below there was a pig sty. North of the laneway there was another open shed, car storage, and a cooking kitchen on the back of the hotel (a little east of the back entrance). Jack Wilson worked for Harry Lang for many years. Mitch Hepburn brought in beer in 1934 and the building opened as the Queen’s Hotel. Businessmen had to chip in to buy a liquor license and Hepburn was the first supplier. Business was excellent and the hotel was really crowded. Before the arrival of the beer, the locals had used it as a place to play dominoes and checkers, and to conduct hunt camp and other organizations’ meetings. (1, 2, 4)

Retiring After 31 Years Brings Her Mixed Emotions
By John Slykhuis

After 31 years of teaching about 1,000 pupils at Bradford Public School, Barbara Stewart is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a thought that brings a mixture of emotions for her. One one hand is the anticipation of doing the things she has been dreaming of for years: travelling extensively in winter and relaxing at her cottage in Minden in summer. On the other hand: "I'm going to miss the children," she admits, "And the staff too. I have many good friends here." Her last class, she says, is particularly special. "I'm really enjoying this last class. This is one of the nicest classes I've ever taught." This Grade 3 class, like the one she started with in 1941, is small and close, almost like a family. She had 13 children to teach in a small one room schoolhouse in Markham Township that first year, and they represented all eight grades. Five years later, she started at the old Bradford Public School, and she has been here ever since. There are so many memories here for Miss Stewart that it is difficult for her to pick out any one, but one does stand out in her mind. Several years ago, the Lions Club of Bradford brought over a crippled girl from India, Vanita Khubchandi, to have an operation at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. While here, she attended Miss Stewart's Grade 7 class. "She came every morning in an ambulance on a stretcher. She had to lie flat on her back all the time...The children really took to her." Then the day arrived for her operation. "The biggest thrill was the day she walked back into the classroom. Oh, the children were so excited. They had a party for her." Miss Stewart still hears from her occasionally and reports that she is walking well and has just finished high school. There are other memories too: walking through snow bank in the early years only to find out when she arrives that the school was closed; teaching her favorite subject, music; and taking the girls' choir to Newmarket where it won first prize. She taught a huge 45-pupil Grade 4-5 class a few years ago ("that was the most challenging and the most rewarding"), and watched the growth of children just arrived from other countries ("It was most rewarding to see them learn the language and go on to do well"). And what about the modern school system? "Well, I approve of the new standard of reporting the progress of a child. But I would far sooner talk to the parents. It's better than any report card. You find out so much more about the child." She adds however, "I believe in marking. I don't see how you can teach without it." Home for Miss Stewart is Markham, where she spends every weekend with her family, and until recently she was the organist at the Markham Presbyterian Church. "I retired as the organist last June. I guess you could say I'm tearing up all my roots...no, routines. I'm tearing up all my old routines." Although she is leaving Bradford for good at the end of this school year, Miss Stewart has reassured her friends that she will be coming back often to visit.

Index of all Tweedsmuir Histories on microfilm.

C.G.I.T. Girls in Stroud 1928. Isobel Coutts (nee Watson) in the middle wearing glasses. Isobel married Norrie Coutts.