Postcard Memories is a series of historic views and photos of Bradford West Gwillimbury, a trip down memory lane on a Saturday morning.
This photo depicts the student body of Mt. Pleasant S.S. #9 one-room school in 1940, along with teacher, Miss Edith Belfry.
BWG resident Shirley Bowles remembers Belfry as one of her teachers at the school, which was located on Line 9 just west of Yonge St.
In her memories of school days, Bowles wrote: “In September, we started practicing for the Bradford Fall Fair School Parade. We marched in pairs, with the first two carrying a large flag. Following this there were races and games. Pupils could enter farm produce and grain, fruit, etc. to compete for prizes.”
Bowles remembered the visit to Canada by King George VI in June of 1939, when the train carrying the king and his consort passed through Alliston. Many elementary school children and their parents drove into Alliston to see the Royal couple – but the train, behind schedule, did not stop.
However, the train did stop at Midhurst, to take on water – and King George mingled with the 28 people who had gathered at the stop. Teacher Edith Belfry was in the small group who met the king.
Shirley Bowles is in the front row of the photo, at the extreme right.
From Governor Simcoe Slept Here: The legacy of West Gwillimbury, published by the BWG Local History Association. A limited number of copies of the 2-volume publication are still available, from the Association or The Bradford Print Shoppe.
