Event Date : Sunday, February 26, 1984
Event Type : Death

Description : A well-known Bradford resident died this past Sunday after suffering a heart attack following a lengthy illness.Eighty-one-year-old Thomas Gardner had been a resident of Bradford since 1918 and was chosen as the town's Citizen of the Year in 1976. Mr. Gardner was born in Newmarket and moved to Bradford with his family at the age of 16. He and his father, Herbert, opened Gardner's Hardware Store on Holland St. and supplied the needs of local residents. When his father died in 1950, Thomas continued the family business. He soon married longtime Bradford resident Rita Cook and had two sons of his own, Donald and John. Don worked with his father at the hardware store until 1962. The store was sold in 1973. Mr. Gardner sat on the Bradford Board of Education for 40 years and was chairman of the board at the time Bradford Public School was built. Other accomplishments included being a member of Bradford town council, elder and active member of the Bradford United Church and superintendent of the Church's Sunday School program for 25 years. He was also president of the Red Cross at the time of Hurricane Hazel. For 30 years, Mr. Gardner was a dedicated member of the Bradford Lions. He leaves behind his wife Rita, sons Don of Simcoe and John of Willowdale, and grandchildren Jim, Dave, Jane and Peter. Funeral service will be held today (Wednesday) at 2 p.m., at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home. Burial will take place at the Newmarket Cemetery.

Event Date : Wednesday, June 27, 1956
Event Type : Death

Description : Mr. Ralph Matthews' very sudden death, as the result of a heart attack, shortly after arriving for his day's business at Holland River Gardens Co. Limited on Wednesday morning, June 27, has left a vacancy in his home, in his church, among the Holland Marsh people, and among his many friends in Bradford. His cheerful disposition and friendly smile had made him a friend to all who knew him. Mr. Matthews was born in Holland, and emigrated to this country thirty-one years ago. Before leaving Holland he became engaged to Elsie Horlings and the following year she came to Chatham, Ontario, where they were married. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews established their home in Windsor and there their two daughters, Henrietta (Mrs. Sidney Van Dyke) of the Holland Marsh, and Jeanne (Mrs. Michael Havinga) of London, Ontario, were born. In August of 1946, when Bradford's first vegetable packing plant, Holland River Gardens Co. Limited, was opened, with his brother-in-law, George Horlings, then the vice-president and general manager, Ralph Matthews resigned his position as foreman in an industrial plant in Windsor to join the company here. His home was on the Holland Marsh. His church was the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church. His friendships were among the members of that congregation and few weddings from that church were complete without a reception following at which Ralph Matthews was master of ceremonies. But his friendships were not confined to his Canadian fellow countrymen. He was an enthusiastic bowler and was a member of the Bradford Men's Bowling Club, where at the annual closing social evenings he was always an asset as a leader. His friendships knew no barriers of race or creed. All good people who knew Ralph Matthews were pleased to call him friend. He is survived by his wife and his two daughters. Two sisters and two brothers reside in Holland and three years ago Mr. and Mrs. Matthews returned to their native land and visited their relatives there. Though his immediate family did not follow him to this country, his family relationships were numerous in this community by his marriage into one of the pioneer marshland families here. His funeral was from the Holland Marsh Christian Reformed Church with his minister, Rev. P. Lagerwey, conducting the services. Six nephews, namely, Wm. Winter, Gerald Verkaik, Harry Horlings, Richard Hyma, Louis Tamminga and George Hulsman were the pallbearers. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.

Event Date : Friday, December 31, 1971
Event Type : Death

Description : James Denis Nolan of Kent St. E., Lindsay, passed away suddenly, following an illness of twelve years, at the Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay, on Dec. 31, 1971. He was 72 years of age. Born on Aug. 30, 1899, in Tecumseth Township, near Newton Robinson, he was the son of the late Denis Nolan and Catherine O'Donnell. Nolan was a pioneer name in Simcoe County. He had resided in this locality for 23 years, having previously resided at Bradford and received his education at Newton Robinson Public School; Cookstown Continuation School and was a graduate of Bradford High School. He enlisted during World War I, but did not see active service, either in Canada or overseas. He was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and before coming to Lindsay, he had attended Forty Martyrs Church, Bradford, and had attended Church of the Assumption, Bell Ewart, Ont., during the summer months. He had been associated with Walkwood Ltd., Lindsay, London Life Insurance Co., Bradford; Nolan Motor Sales, Bradford and DeHaviland Aircraft, Toronto. He took an interest in sports and had been a member of Lindsay Curling Club for many years. A member of the Knights of Columbus for 50 years, he was also a Charter Member of the Lions Club in Bradford. He is survived by his wife, Clare Beatrice Nolan, four sons, Denis Nolan of Dollard-des- Ormeaux, P.Q., James M. Nolan of Lindsay, Dr. Paul Nolan of Sudbury, Eugene Nolan of Uxbridge and 15 grandchildren. Other surviving relatives are two sisters, Constance Nolan, of Bradford, and Aileen (Mrs. Edmund Grise) of Midland. An aunt, Mrs. John Hanlon of Bradford, also survives. The funeral was held on Jan. 4, 1972, at 10 a.m. from Stoddart Funeral Home, Lindsay, with temporary entombment in Riverside Cemetery, Lindsay. Interment later in McGann's Cemetery, R.R. 2, Bradford. Rev. Father G. F. Sullivan conducted the service. The pallbearers were William Burke, Gordon Corley, Vern Hildenbrand, Guy Mills, Ralph Rodman and Adrian Vaillancourt.
(From the Lindsay Daily Post)