Toronto Daily Star - May 26, 1937
LUMBER, SHIPPING MAGNATE JAMES PLAYFAIR IS DEAD - Native of Toronto Was Interested in Many Spheres of Business - PASSED AT MIDLAND
James Playfair, famous throughout Canada for his activity in shipping and lumbering industries, passed away in his home at Midland at one o'clock yesterday after a short illness.
Mr. Playfair, who was born in Toronto in 1860, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Playfair, came to Midland in 1883, and first worked for the Toronto Lumber Co., which had large limits in Simcoe county and sawmills at Collingwood, at wages of $12 a month. From that date his name was closley identified with lumber and shipping and the grain business.
In 1888, he formed a partnership D. L. White of Midland, and association that continued until Mr. Playfair's death. The Playfair-White shipping imterests were among the most extensive on the Great Lakes, beginnining with the Midland Navigation Co., owners of a large fleet of freighters, which was amalgated with McKay and Co. of Hamilton to form the Inland Lines, subsequently merged with the Richeleau-Ontario.
Their shipping interests were conducted under the name of the Geart Lakes Navigation Co., which with the Midland Shipbuilding Co., and Midland Coal Dock was sold to the Canada Steamship Lines. The S. S. Glenmohr, with a capacity of 16, 000 tons, was built at the Midland drydock. Mr. Playfair's shipping interests drew him into the grain business and he became the founder of the Copeland Flour Mills.
Owned Palatial Yacht
Mr. Playfair's hobbies included baseball, curling, shooting and sailing. During the war he purchased the palatial yacht Venetia, whish was sailed twice around the world, and which after the United States came into the war succeeded in sinking a German submarine. Mr. Playfair owns a big duck preserve, Mud Lake, just east of Midland.
One of Mr. Playfair's most appreciated gifts to Midland was the St, Andrew's Hospital, the Manley Chew residence, having been purchased my him for this purpose. For several years he and Mrs. Playfair spent the winters at their home in California.
The deceased at the time of his death was president of Toronto --------------- church and a lifelong Liberal. Mr. Playfair is survived by his widow, formerly Sarah Charlotte Ogilvie, daughter of the late Senator Ogilvie of Montreal; also by two brothers, Norman L. Playfair, Midland and Stuart B. Playfair, broker, Toronto, and one sister, Mrs. Charles E. Lee, Toronto. There were no children.
"Big In Everything"
"For the last 20 years James Playfair has been one of my most intimate and valued friends, " was the tribute to-day of J. F. McKay. "He was impatient with anything that bordered on the petty for he was himself big in everything. In things Canadian he was an optimist through and through and his word was his bond. he was richly endowed with social qualities and no one who has enjoyed hi hospitality either at his home or one of his palatial yachts can ever forget the happy experience. The passing of James Playfair leaves a blank in the business world of Canada that will be hard to fill."
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James Playfair (b. Toronto, 1860 - d. Midland, 1937)
Founder of Midland, Ontario, Canada was noted for his entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes shipping, lumbering, grain handling, and industrial manufacturing businesses and 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. His residence, Edgehill, overlooking Midland Harbour on Georgian Bay was the first home of the Huronia museum.
LUMBER, SHIPPING MAGNATE JAMES PLAYFAIR IS DEAD - Native of Toronto Was Interested in Many Spheres of Business - PASSED AT MIDLAND
James Playfair, famous throughout Canada for his activity in shipping and lumbering industries, passed away in his home at Midland at one o'clock yesterday after a short illness.
Mr. Playfair, who was born in Toronto in 1860, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Playfair, came to Midland in 1883, and first worked for the Toronto Lumber Co., which had large limits in Simcoe county and sawmills at Collingwood, at wages of $12 a month. From that date his name was closley identified with lumber and shipping and the grain business.
In 1888, he formed a partnership D. L. White of Midland, and association that continued until Mr. Playfair's death. The Playfair-White shipping imterests were among the most extensive on the Great Lakes, beginnining with the Midland Navigation Co., owners of a large fleet of freighters, which was amalgated with McKay and Co. of Hamilton to form the Inland Lines, subsequently merged with the Richeleau-Ontario.
Their shipping interests were conducted under the name of the Geart Lakes Navigation Co., which with the Midland Shipbuilding Co., and Midland Coal Dock was sold to the Canada Steamship Lines. The S. S. Glenmohr, with a capacity of 16, 000 tons, was built at the Midland drydock. Mr. Playfair's shipping interests drew him into the grain business and he became the founder of the Copeland Flour Mills.
Owned Palatial Yacht
Mr. Playfair's hobbies included baseball, curling, shooting and sailing. During the war he purchased the palatial yacht Venetia, whish was sailed twice around the world, and which after the United States came into the war succeeded in sinking a German submarine. Mr. Playfair owns a big duck preserve, Mud Lake, just east of Midland.
One of Mr. Playfair's most appreciated gifts to Midland was the St, Andrew's Hospital, the Manley Chew residence, having been purchased my him for this purpose. For several years he and Mrs. Playfair spent the winters at their home in California.
The deceased at the time of his death was president of Toronto --------------- church and a lifelong Liberal. Mr. Playfair is survived by his widow, formerly Sarah Charlotte Ogilvie, daughter of the late Senator Ogilvie of Montreal; also by two brothers, Norman L. Playfair, Midland and Stuart B. Playfair, broker, Toronto, and one sister, Mrs. Charles E. Lee, Toronto. There were no children.
"Big In Everything"
"For the last 20 years James Playfair has been one of my most intimate and valued friends, " was the tribute to-day of J. F. McKay. "He was impatient with anything that bordered on the petty for he was himself big in everything. In things Canadian he was an optimist through and through and his word was his bond. he was richly endowed with social qualities and no one who has enjoyed hi hospitality either at his home or one of his palatial yachts can ever forget the happy experience. The passing of James Playfair leaves a blank in the business world of Canada that will be hard to fill."
----------------------------------
James Playfair (b. Toronto, 1860 - d. Midland, 1937)
Founder of Midland, Ontario, Canada was noted for his entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes shipping, lumbering, grain handling, and industrial manufacturing businesses and 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. His residence, Edgehill, overlooking Midland Harbour on Georgian Bay was the first home of the Huronia museum.
Toronto Daily Star - May 26, 1937
LUMBER, SHIPPING MAGNATE JAMES PLAYFAIR IS DEAD - Native of Toronto Was Interested in Many Spheres of Business - PASSED AT MIDLAND
James Playfair, famous throughout Canada for his activity in shipping and lumbering industries, passed away in his home at Midland at one o'clock yesterday after a short illness.
Mr. Playfair, who was born in Toronto in 1860, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Playfair, came to Midland in 1883, and first worked for the Toronto Lumber Co., which had large limits in Simcoe county and sawmills at Collingwood, at wages of $12 a month. From that date his name was closley identified with lumber and shipping and the grain business.
In 1888, he formed a partnership D. L. White of Midland, and association that continued until Mr. Playfair's death. The Playfair-White shipping imterests were among the most extensive on the Great Lakes, beginnining with the Midland Navigation Co., owners of a large fleet of freighters, which was amalgated with McKay and Co. of Hamilton to form the Inland Lines, subsequently merged with the Richeleau-Ontario.
Their shipping interests were conducted under the name of the Geart Lakes Navigation Co., which with the Midland Shipbuilding Co., and Midland Coal Dock was sold to the Canada Steamship Lines. The S. S. Glenmohr, with a capacity of 16, 000 tons, was built at the Midland drydock. Mr. Playfair's shipping interests drew him into the grain business and he became the founder of the Copeland Flour Mills.
Owned Palatial Yacht
Mr. Playfair's hobbies included baseball, curling, shooting and sailing. During the war he purchased the palatial yacht Venetia, whish was sailed twice around the world, and which after the United States came into the war succeeded in sinking a German submarine. Mr. Playfair owns a big duck preserve, Mud Lake, just east of Midland.
One of Mr. Playfair's most appreciated gifts to Midland was the St, Andrew's Hospital, the Manley Chew residence, having been purchased my him for this purpose. For several years he and Mrs. Playfair spent the winters at their home in California.
The deceased at the time of his death was president of Toronto --------------- church and a lifelong Liberal. Mr. Playfair is survived by his widow, formerly Sarah Charlotte Ogilvie, daughter of the late Senator Ogilvie of Montreal; also by two brothers, Norman L. Playfair, Midland and Stuart B. Playfair, broker, Toronto, and one sister, Mrs. Charles E. Lee, Toronto. There were no children.
"Big In Everything"
"For the last 20 years James Playfair has been one of my most intimate and valued friends, " was the tribute to-day of J. F. McKay. "He was impatient with anything that bordered on the petty for he was himself big in everything. In things Canadian he was an optimist through and through and his word was his bond. he was richly endowed with social qualities and no one who has enjoyed hi hospitality either at his home or one of his palatial yachts can ever forget the happy experience. The passing of James Playfair leaves a blank in the business world of Canada that will be hard to fill."
----------------------------------
James Playfair (b. Toronto, 1860 - d. Midland, 1937)
Founder of Midland, Ontario, Canada was noted for his entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes shipping, lumbering, grain handling, and industrial manufacturing businesses and 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. His residence, Edgehill, overlooking Midland Harbour on Georgian Bay was the first home of the Huronia museum.
LUMBER, SHIPPING MAGNATE JAMES PLAYFAIR IS DEAD - Native of Toronto Was Interested in Many Spheres of Business - PASSED AT MIDLAND
James Playfair, famous throughout Canada for his activity in shipping and lumbering industries, passed away in his home at Midland at one o'clock yesterday after a short illness.
Mr. Playfair, who was born in Toronto in 1860, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Playfair, came to Midland in 1883, and first worked for the Toronto Lumber Co., which had large limits in Simcoe county and sawmills at Collingwood, at wages of $12 a month. From that date his name was closley identified with lumber and shipping and the grain business.
In 1888, he formed a partnership D. L. White of Midland, and association that continued until Mr. Playfair's death. The Playfair-White shipping imterests were among the most extensive on the Great Lakes, beginnining with the Midland Navigation Co., owners of a large fleet of freighters, which was amalgated with McKay and Co. of Hamilton to form the Inland Lines, subsequently merged with the Richeleau-Ontario.
Their shipping interests were conducted under the name of the Geart Lakes Navigation Co., which with the Midland Shipbuilding Co., and Midland Coal Dock was sold to the Canada Steamship Lines. The S. S. Glenmohr, with a capacity of 16, 000 tons, was built at the Midland drydock. Mr. Playfair's shipping interests drew him into the grain business and he became the founder of the Copeland Flour Mills.
Owned Palatial Yacht
Mr. Playfair's hobbies included baseball, curling, shooting and sailing. During the war he purchased the palatial yacht Venetia, whish was sailed twice around the world, and which after the United States came into the war succeeded in sinking a German submarine. Mr. Playfair owns a big duck preserve, Mud Lake, just east of Midland.
One of Mr. Playfair's most appreciated gifts to Midland was the St, Andrew's Hospital, the Manley Chew residence, having been purchased my him for this purpose. For several years he and Mrs. Playfair spent the winters at their home in California.
The deceased at the time of his death was president of Toronto --------------- church and a lifelong Liberal. Mr. Playfair is survived by his widow, formerly Sarah Charlotte Ogilvie, daughter of the late Senator Ogilvie of Montreal; also by two brothers, Norman L. Playfair, Midland and Stuart B. Playfair, broker, Toronto, and one sister, Mrs. Charles E. Lee, Toronto. There were no children.
"Big In Everything"
"For the last 20 years James Playfair has been one of my most intimate and valued friends, " was the tribute to-day of J. F. McKay. "He was impatient with anything that bordered on the petty for he was himself big in everything. In things Canadian he was an optimist through and through and his word was his bond. he was richly endowed with social qualities and no one who has enjoyed hi hospitality either at his home or one of his palatial yachts can ever forget the happy experience. The passing of James Playfair leaves a blank in the business world of Canada that will be hard to fill."
----------------------------------
James Playfair (b. Toronto, 1860 - d. Midland, 1937)
Founder of Midland, Ontario, Canada was noted for his entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes shipping, lumbering, grain handling, and industrial manufacturing businesses and 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. His residence, Edgehill, overlooking Midland Harbour on Georgian Bay was the first home of the Huronia museum.
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