An ad for the South Simcoe Annual Musical Festival to be held at the Bradford Town Hall and sponsored by the Women’s Inst., c. 1933. Appeared in the Bradford Witness.

Index of all Tweedsmuir Histories on microfilm.

Description : Pub. Library Officially Opened by Director of Library Services

An inspiring address by Mr. Angus Mowat, Provincial Director of Library Services for Ontario, was the highlight of the official opening of Bradford Public Library last evening.

Mr. Mowat complimented the Library Board, Council and librarian upon the very attractive library which they have created from a room which looked impossible and from materials almost equally in disrepair. The Bradford Public Library is the successful product of local effort and of local leadership, Mr. Mowat stated, adding that this effort has created a charming little library.

During his address Mr. Mowat's reference to the library was as a book service for the people, and he reminded that when books desired are not available in the small home library they can usually be borrowed from the county library. A provincial library for this purpose is a hope for the future.

In reference to Provincial library grants Mr. Mowat informed that in 1945 such grants total $50,000 and this year they total $865,000. Bradford's grant this year will cover 65% of the municipality's expense for the library.

At the close of his address, on behalf of the Ontario Minister of Education, Mr. Mowat declared Bradford Public Library officially opened.

The guests at the meeting were welcomed by Reeve Arthur Evans.

Chairman of the Library Board, Mr. Cecil Brittain, briefly reviewed the conditions leading to the establishing of the library and the services rendered by members of Board, naming particularly the work of the secretary-treasurer, Mr. Dan Blake, and the building committee members, Messrs. Glenn Boyd and F.C. Cook; The Council, particularly the chairman of the town hall committee, Mr. H. Taylor; the librarian, Miss B. Webb; and Mr. Mowat.

Mr. Brittain urged that residents avail themselves of the opportunity to make use of the library which is free to all residing within the municipality of Bradford. To those outside this municipality the charge is one dollar for a library card.

Mr. Mowat was introduced by Mr. Glenn Boyd, who referred to Mr. Mowat's service in two wars as well as his valuable help as director of public libraries. Mr. F.C. Cook, the other member of the building committee, expressed the appreciation for Mr. Mowat's address as well as his wonderful assistance in preparing the library. The history of Ontario Libraries and of Mr. Angus Mowat are one, Mr. Cook declared.

Rev. F.G. MacTavish and Rev. W.S. Johnson added congratulatory words.

Following the singing of the National Anthem refreshments were served by the ladies of Bradford Women's Institute.

A plaque marking the building of the Bradford Public Library in 1962. The plaque is heavyweight and made of metal. It notes donors and the names of members of the Library Board at the time. The plaque was removed from the Library's John Street West location after it was decommissioned following the building of a new Library location at 100 Holland Court.

A plaque presented by York County Hospital (now Southlake Hospital) in Newmarket to the Bradford Women's Institute in recognition of members' involvement in volunteering at the hospital.

"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

"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."

"Mrs. Austin Zoeller, vice president of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada, speaking last Wednesday night at the 50th anniversary of Bradford Women's Institute said, 'There is no other organization like the W.I. in the whole wide world.' She recalled the W.I. was born on tragedy--the death of a child from drinking impure milk. Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless, the founder of the W.I. was the mother of the child. Mrs. Zoeller told how the secretary of the Farmer's Institute, Erland Lee at Stoney Creek, Ontario, promoted hearing a woman speaker against the wishes of his all-men organization. Mrs. Hoodless, that speaker, made a dynamic speech. Lee told the men after if they believed it important to have an organization to learn how to feed their animals, then it was equally important their wives had an organization to educate themselves on how to feed their families."