Reminiscing about Bedford’s past

Neighbourhood history was the topic of conversation during a meeting held at the Scott Manor House on Fort Sackville Road Monday night.

Speaking to an audience of about 40 interested residents, former Bedford developer Doug Beattie shared his part in the development of an area called Tel-Rad, a small section of what is now the Basinview subdivision.

In the 60′s ten employees of CBC, thus the name Tel(evision)-Rad(io), heard about land for sale in Bedford. Unfortunately, the ten could not afford the land on their own. They sought the help of family and friends, and the number rose to 26.

Plots of land were purchased for $1,350 apiece. And as a community these new landowners worked together and helped each other clear the land.

The area included Meadowbrook Drive, from Beech Street to Basinview Drive, and across Orchard, Madison  and Lincoln Drives.

When construction of the houses was ready to begin the landowners picked lot numbers “out of a hat” and that was where their houses were built. Each house was different and unique, representing the wishes of the various homeowners.

So different from what it is today-cookie-cutter houses with little variety and no originality and character.

Beattie explained how they used to be able to walk down a path from Meadowbrook Drive all the way down to Papermill Lake and have wonderful picnics. The area was also great for rabbit and deer hunting. There was a lake in the Meadowbrook area as well where many at the meeting remembered with fondness of having skated there with their families and friends.

That too is gone. With each new develpment, we lose the original beauty of Bedford, the beauty that many of the older folks at the meeting fondly remembered with smiles on their faces.