Postcard Memories is a series of historic views, stories and photos of Bradford West Gwillimbury, a trip down memory lane on a Saturday morning.
If you live in Bradford, surely you've seen the large farm on Highway 88, just east of Highway 400, with the name Langford on the large green barn.
Their family's roots stem way back to 1842 when they first arrived in West Gwillimbury from Ireland.
William Alexander Langford (1890-1968) and Bertha Catherine Elizabeth Pettit were married on March 5, 1919, and purchased the south half of lot 12, concession 7 in West Gwillimbury, where they resided until 1967 when they purchased the house at 110 John St. in Bradford. Their son Stewart and family remained at the farm.
William and Bertha had three children: Dorothy Henrietta, who died as a baby from influenza; Keith Henry, who married Ella Hawley, and Stewart William, who married Ruth Florence Thompson.
Keith and Ella had four sons: William John, Peter George (who was killed by a drunk driver on Highway 88 in 1962), Donald Keith and David Scott.
In April 1946, William Langford purchased the farm on the north half of lot 10, concession 6, on Simcoe County Road 88.
In July 1948, Keith and Ella were married and took over the farm where they raised their family.
Keith was a life long area farmer and community leader, who passed away in 1981. He served as reeve and deputy reeve of West Gwillimbury and on Simcoe County Council.
Keith and Ella's son David and family took over the farm and now operate a grain elevator business.
William, Bertha, Keith and Peter are all buried in the United Church Cemetary in Bond Head.
-From the Governor Simcoe Slept Here book
