Posted on Saturday, February 03, 2007 - 12:39 am:

quote:

"EDWARD GRAY is well known as an expert mechanical engineer and also as the owner of Grayhaven-the Utopia of Detroit yachtsmen. He was born in Peotone, Illinois, April 14, 1872, of the marriage of David and Rebecca (Karney) Gray, and has one sister, Mabel. After completing his public school course he devoted his energies to learning the trade of a machinist, serving an apprenticeship in the Mandt Wagon Works at Stoughton, Wisconsin, and he also worked in the engine room of their plant, becoming greatly interested in their construction and operation. Going to Bradford, Pennsylvania, he there entered business circles in 1895 as a member of the Gray-Blaisdell Company, engaged in the manufacture of gas engines and gas compressors. For six years he maintained his interest in that company, building up a large business and also establishing his position as one of the leading mechanical engineers of the country.

After severing his connection with that firm he organized the Riverside Engine Company for the manufacture of large power engines and sold to the Ford Motor Company the first three large engines installed in their Highland Park plant. In 1909 Mr. Gray became chief engineer for the Ford Company and had charge of installing all of the machinery in their new plant and also of the work of erecting the shops in conjunction therewith, remaining with the corporation until 1914, when he resigned in order that he might enter business circles independently.

For many years yachting has been a favorite pastime with Detroit's citizens, owing to the city's unrivalled situation upon one of the most beautiful rivers in this country, and in order to offer better facilities for the enjoyment of this sport he conceived the plan of establishing a colony for yacht owners. With this end in view he purchased from Daniel J. Campau sixty acres of swamp land lying along the river front and this he proceeded to fill in; securing the necessary earth from excavations on buildings in the down-town section, loading the soil on scows stationed at the foot of Orleans street and then conveying it to its destination. After filling in the land he dredged a channel, forming a rectangular waterway through his property of sufficient depth to permit the navigation of large vessels and also providing a continual supply of fresh water. A number of homes have already been erected upon the property by yacht owners of Detroit, with whom it is rapidly gaining favor, and it bids fair to become a modern Venice.

Mr. Gray has a daughter, Mildred, whose birth occurred in 1901. He resides on his yacht, the Mildred G. III, which'is one of the finest of the many beautiful vessels to be seen on the sapphire blue waters of the Detroit river. He is identified with the Detroit Engineering Society and he is also, a popular member of the Detroit Athletic, Detroit Automobile and Detroit Yacht Clubs. His business career has been marked by continuous progress, owing to his superior professional attainments and his tireless energy, which never stops short of the attainment of its purpose. His initiative spirit has led him into a new and untried field, in which his intelligently directed efforts are resulting in success, and he is a man whom to know is to esteem and admire."