James Playfair (businessman)

This article is about the Canadian businessperson. For the Scottish architect, see James Playfair.
James Playfair
Born 1860?
birthplace uncertain; Scotland or Toronto
Died 27 May 1937(1937-05-27) (aged 76)
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Occupation Businessman
Known for Great Lakes shipping; Midland businessman
Spouse(s) Charlotte Ogilivie

James Playfair (b. Toronto, 1860 - d. Midland, 1937) was noted for his entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes shipping, lumbering, grain handling, and industrial manufacturing businesses. He was a central figure in the establishment of Midland, Ontario, Canada. Around 1912, Playfair formed two steamship lines: Great Lakes Transportation Company(canal and coastwide trade) and Glen Line (upper lake trade), total of 38 ships. Son of John Speirs Playfair (26 June 1826, Glasgow – 1913, Toronto) and Georgina Hall of Montreal. Playfair married Charlotte Ogilvie (daughter of Senator A.W. Ogilvie - Ogilvie Flour Mills) of Montreal in 1889.

He began working for the Toronto Lumber Company of Simcoe County when he was a teenager, and moved to Midland in 1883. In 1888 he formed a lumber partnership with D. L. White, Jr., of Midland. In 1896 Playfair bought a small wooden freight steamer, which he put to work to hauling grain between Fort William and Goderich. The ship sunk in 1900. Playfair regrouped in 1901, creating Midland Navigation Company. The company was merged with Inland Navigation Company Ltd in 1910, becoming Inland Lines Ltd. In 1926 633’ foot Glenmohr, launched at Midland, was the largest bulk carrier on the Great Lakes.[1]

Playfair was involved in numerous other activities, among them Toronto Elevators.[2]

The Playfairs donated their residence, Edgehill, overlooking Midland Harbour on Georgian Bay. The residence was the first home of the Huronia museum. Today it is the site of Edgehill Park (formerly known as Huronia Park). The Playfairs also saved Little Lake Park from being cut down in 1906.[3] The Playfairs donated property for St Andrews Hospital, a predecessor of today's Georgian Bay General Hospital.[4] The site of Presbyterian church camp Glen Mohr near Beaverton was donated by the Playfairs in 1930.[5] The Georgian Bay Cup was donated in 1888 by James Playfair as a prize for the inaugural Georgian Bay Regatta.[6]

A mural in Midland commemorates Playfair.[7]


References

  1. ↑ "Argosy On the Rocks". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ship of the Month No. 97 James B. Eads". The Scanner. December 1980. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Dunning, Jenni (Jun 16, 2015). "Petition launched to save Midland's Edgehill Park from construction". Midland Mirror. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  4. ↑ "Our History". Georgian Bay General Hospital. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "A History of Synod Camping". Cairn. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  6. ↑ WEATHERALL, SHARON (Wednesday, May 5, 2010 8:00:00 EDT AM). "Local yacht club throws down sailing challenge". Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin. Retrieved 17 September 2016. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ Michael Taylor. http://www.michaeltaylor.ca/culture/midland/playfair.html. Retrieved 17 September 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/8/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.