Theodore Pringle Loblaw (1872 - 1933)

Born 1 Jul 1872 in Elmgrove, Essa, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Isabella Helen (Adam) Loblaw — married 2 Jun 1897 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada

Died 2 Apr 1933 at age 60 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

No bilogical children, although they adopted grand-niece Jean Agnes Loblaw Watts-10926, and fostered nephews Alexander Burr-3335-Loblaw, John Burr-1677-Loblaw and Jane Fraser Burr-3336-Loblaw. Theodore is buried in Alliston Union Cemetery beside his wife Isabella Helen Adam. In 1947 his grocery shares were sold to William Garfield Westin.

• http://mimicoestates.blogspot.com/2011/02/bonnyview-loblaw-estate.html

Mimico Beach Estates The story of the fascinating people and their fabulous estates along the waterfront of the former Town of Mimico (now part of the City of Toronto)

Thursday, February 24, 2011 Bonnyview - Loblaw Estate - DEMOLISHED Theodore Pringle Loblaw, one of the founders of Loblaws, and known as the "Merchant Prince" established his Mimico Beach Estate in the 1920s when he purchased the Eaton estate. He must have been a frequent guest at the nearby estate of his partner John Milton Cork and decided to acquire a summer home for himself.

Theodore Pringle "TP" Loblaw was born in Alliston in 1872, son of William James Loblaw and Isabella Stevenson. His father died when he was an infant and his widowed mother moved in with her parents. When he was 17 years old he came to Toronto and began working as a grocery clerk with W.C. Cork Ltd earning $3 a week. With his first savings, Loblaw bought an interest in the store. He formed a partnership with John Milton Cork and by 1910 they owned and operated a chain of 19 small stores. They soon sold the chain to the Dominion Stores Company. It was then that he first came up with the idea of the cash and carry system that would make him famous and wealthy. Prior to this groceries were bought with the help of clerks behind the counter. In 1919 he began Loblaws Groceterias with the moto of "Cash, one price and satisfaction guaranteed".

He soon followed with other innovations such as specialty products only available at Loblaw stores such as High Park Coffee, and its own Loblaw brands of tea.

TP was generous with his wealth and was well known for his philanthropy.

He married his wife Isabella Adam in 1895. She died on May 27, 1930 of heart failure brought on by pneumonia at the farm in Alliston - she was buried in the family plot in Alliston Cemetery.

Tragedy struck when TP died in Western Hospital from complications following a minor operation on March 31, 1933. His funeral was held at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church on April 4, 1933 after which the body was transported to Alliston where he was buried beside his wife in the family plot in Alliston Cemetery. He was survived by an adopted daughter Jean Agnes Loblaw and three foster sons Alexander, John and James Burr-Loblaw.

In May 1933 the will was probated and valued at $2,196,301. The Bonnyview estate in Mimico was bequeathed to his daughter Jean.

Jean Loblaw sold the Mimico Estate to Mr. Franceschini in 1934. Weston Limited purchased Loblaws in 1947.

The property was developed in the 1950s with apartments along the Lake Shore Road (currently Lake Shore Blvd. West) and sixplexes along a new street - Norris Crescent.

According to the 1933 Windsor Star eight of T.P.'s nephews were pall bearers and include:

• Hunter Loblaw
• John M. Kinsey
• Leslie Adams
• Stuart Adam
• Alexander Burr-Loblaw
• John Burr-Loblaw
• James Burr-Loblaw
• William Kinsey

Sources

• "Theodore Pringle Loblaw 1872-1933". Ontario Heritage Trust. Retrieved April 25, 2019.

• "Theodore Pringle Loblaw 1872-1933". OntarioPlaques.com. Alan L. Brown. Retrieved April 25, 2019.