Town of Midland

A working replica of the original Bee, which was built in 1817 and sailed until 1831. This replica currently sails the waters of Georgian Bay from King’s Wharf at Penetanguishene’s Discovery Harbour.

This mural depicts the Playfair Mill, which was the first lumber mill in the area built in 1871. James Playfair and D.L. Hoyt purchased the mill in 1886 and turned it into a profit-making venture until it was destroyed by fire in 1916.

This mural shows a portrait of James Playfair, who was a successful lumberman, turned to shipping in 1896. In 1915 the Midland Shipbuilding Company started to build freighters as depicted in this mural.

A view into an old time apothecary shop. In those days druggists were virtually chemists mixing their own cures as outlined by your physician. Medicines came in the form of powders, drinks and mixtures.

Created to commemorate the Midland Post Office’s 125th anniversary. The mural views as a postage stamp that includes a scene of Downtown Midland in the era of 1885. The gentleman seen in the foreground is Midland’s first postmaster Thomas Gladstane.

Depicting the early years of a 20th Century livery stable and the introduction of the automobile when it started taking over traditional transportation.

Based on a photograph taken by J.W. Bald around 1910 – Reveals how much the local resident’s lives centered on the Midland Harbour in the early 1900’s. Since Midland was situated at the southern end of Georgian Bay it was predicted that Midland would become the “Chicago of the North”.​

Farther along the wall on Dominion Street from the first Midland Railway Corporation mural, a second mural shows the engine house. The men are re-positioning the turntable to allow the locomotive to leave the yard.

Capturing the Midland Railway as it was – The station was officially opened for commercial and passenger use in 1879 and existed until 1998.

With this mural you will see a view of a woman working away on an early model sewing machine while her cats look out the window across the road at the Woolen Mill Store.

This mural depicts a typical sawmill of the 1900’s. As was noted from previous murals, the lumber industry played a big part in the growth of the Midland area.

This is a rendering of the Brebeuf Lighthouse originally built in the 1900’s. It was built to guide ships on course from Giant’s Tomb to the channel serving Midland Bay.

This reproduction painting is a large version of an original oil painting done by Norman Rockwell. It was commissioned in the late 1920’s by Pratt and Lambert.

On the laneway beside the Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce building, this mural is actually entitled “Coureurs de Bois” which translates as “Runners of the Woods” shows fur traders meeting and working with the Hurons.

Originally painted by Fred Lenz in 1994 and redesigned by Ruth Hurdle in 2008. It is a collage of the tourist attractions, which promotes the spirit of Midland. In honour of the late, local artist Fred Lenz, an image of him can be seen painting a scene in the bottom left corner of the mural.