The History of the Name Behind Mississauga’s Rattray Marsh

Major James Rattray in front of Barrymede

James Halliday Rattray (1887-1959) was born in Portsmouth, Ontario, just outside of Kingston, in 1887 to Margaret and Reverend James Rattray. His parents were born in Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1882, and settled near Kingston, and later lived near Eganville. The family grew to include eight children: Margaret “Peggy”, Thomas, Annie, Norman, James, William “Jack”, Helen and Alfred Lorne.

Rattray was a graduate of Queen’s University with a degree in geology and mining engineering, which led him to a career in mining, first with McKinley & Darragh Mine in Cobalt, where he became the manager. He later had a long career with Kerr Addison Gold Mines Ltd., also in Cobalt. Over time he worked his way up to the position of vice-president and director, and was a substantial shareholder in the company.

Major James Rattray

Rattray enlisted as a Lieutenant with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on January 7, 1915, where his profession was recorded as Mining Engineer. Rattray had previous military experience with the 38th Dufferin Rifles. Upon enlisting for the First World War, he initially served with Borden’s Motor Machine Gun Battery (also referred to as an Armoured Battery) as part of the 4th Battalion. He was promoted to captain and attached to the Royal Air Force in 1917 before joining the 10th Battalion as a Major. He also served with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company and at District Depot 3 in Kinmel, Wales. He may have been present during the Kinmel Park Riots involving Canadian soldiers awaiting repatriation amidst difficult living conditions and logistical challenges in bringing thousands of soldiers back home to Canada.

Rattray served through the First World War and was formally demobilized in Ottawa on July 14, 1919. He was awarded a Military Cross for his service during the war.

James Rattray CEF Attestation 1915

Rattray was acquainted with the Clarkson area through his friends Ida and Percy Parker, owners of nearby Riverwood. Major Rattray at first rented Riverwood from the Parkers, through which he became acquainted with Frank Burton, who worked for the Parkers at Riverwood. In 1945 Rattray purchased the Fudger Estate in the Clarkson area, which had been built 1918-1920 by H.H. Fudger, President of the Robert Simpson Company. The substantial Fudger house was known as “Barrymede”. Frank Burton, formerly of Riverwood, came to live and work for Major Rattray, becoming the estate manager.

Major Rattray was known as “Jim” to his friends and as Mr. Rattray by his household staff. He was a lifelong bachelor with no immediate family, although he did have several nieces and nephews. It is written that his house was always full of guests, as Major Rattray liked to entertain. Many of his guests were from the world of politics and the performing arts, of which Major Rattray was a great supporter. Distinguished guests of Major Rattray included Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, playwright Mavor Moore and singer/actor Robert Goulet, amongst many others. One of Major Rattray’s close acquaintances was former Grand Duchess Olga Romanov, who frequently visit Major Rattray and painted landscapes around Barrymede. Major Rattray’s last public appearance was recorded as having attended the wedding of Olga Romanov’s son, Tihon Kulikovsky, which took place just five days before Major Rattray passed away.

Friends and neighbours of Major Rattray at Barrymede with Igor Sikorsky and the Sikorsky helicopter which landed at Barrymede – image courtesy of the Museums of Mississauga

Major Rattray’s obituary stated that he was a patron of the arts and had fine collections of paintings, including works from notable Canadian artists, as well as British and European masters. He also supported theatre, and generously supported theatrical enterprises, and also supported Stephen Leacock’s Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town. He also supported Queen’s University.

Major Rattray obituary - from Toronto Star, September 19, 1959

Rattray died at Barrymede on September 18, 1959 at the age of 72 years, leaving a large estate of 148 acres and a long battle over what would happen to the property. The property fell into private ownership and was up for development. Barrymede was demolished in 1969. After years of negotiation and lobbying by naturalists and concerned citizens the property was acquired by Credit Valley Conservation and the City of Mississauga. It was opened to the public as Ratttray Marsh Conservation Area in 1975.

Obituary for Major James Rattray, from The Globe and Mail, Sept 21, 1959