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The Second Annual "Battle of Old Bradford" will take place at the Old Bradford Pioneer Village Museum on May 22 and 23, 2010. Come join us and visit with the actors in their authentic uniforms and dress. Attend the battle at 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 22 and 1:00 PM on Sunday, May 23. This is a great experience for adults and youth alike. Entrance fee for this event is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for students in school Kindergarten through 12th grade. A pancake breakfast will be served on Sunday morning, May 23 at the Little Brown Church, Free Will Offering.
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Hello and
welcome to the Bradford Pioneer Village Museum in Nashua,
Iowa.
Opening for the 2010 Season on Thursday, May 1.
The Bradford Pioneer Village Museum will be open Monday
through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sundays
from Noon to 5:00 PM. We have many new things in the
gift shop this season. There is something for everyone.
Please come check us out, take a tour of the village
and help us make this the best year ever.
We are located on highway 346 one mile east of Nashua,
Iowa. We are neighbors to the world famous Little Brown
Church in the Vale. We are seasonal, open from May 1
to October 31. We are open seven days a week.
In 1836 this area was an Indian trading
post. Chief Bradford was the leader at that time. But
as the white
man moved west, these trading posts were taken over and
turned into thriving towns. Thus, is the story of Bradford.
As the people moved from the east coast, they were in
search of land that contained everything they needed
to live and sustain themselves. This area of Iowa had
abundant trees and water needed to build homes, businesses,
grain mills, sawmills. This area had it all. The town
was called Bradford and grew to a large town of nearly
1000 people. There was a grist mill and sawmill on the
Cedar River nearby. There were four hotels, general stores,
blacksmith shop, school. Bradford was the County Seat.
A large brick building was built that was to become one
of the first academies in the State of Iowa. It was named
the Bradford Academy and was the equivalent of a high
school. Many students graduated from this academy and
some returned to the east coast to go to college.
Plans were then made for the railroad
to come through Bradford. Ground north of town was prepared
for the forthcoming
tracks. But by this time, two other towns had sprung
up within the county, one being Nashua, just 1-1/2 miles
to the southwest, and New Hampton, a few miles to the
northeast. The railroad changed their plans and decided
to run the railroad around Bradford through New Hampton
and Nashua. Without the easy access to the rails, the
town of Bradford began to die and disappeared in the
early 1900s. All that remains of the
original
town
of Bradford is the Little Brown Church. This church was
made famous by the song written by William S. Pitts who
was a physician and music director at the Bradford Academy.
The museum and church are now part of Nashua, Iowa.
We hope to have
piqued your interest and that you will want to come visit
us. We have very knowledgeable tour guides who can tell
you stories about some of our articles and we love to
listen to the stories you have as you see things on your
tour that remind you of your past as well.
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