Ruskview is an unincorporated rural community in Mulmur Township, Dufferin County, Ontario, Canada.[1][2]

Ruskview
Unincorporated rural community
Ruskview is located in Ontario
Ruskview
Ruskview
Ruskview is located in Canada
Ruskview
Ruskview
Coordinates: 44°14′08″N 80°07′18″W / 44.23556°N 80.12167°W / 44.23556; -80.12167
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyDufferin
TownshipMulmur
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
GNBC CodeFCMZK[1]

Located within the Niagara Escarpment, on the highest bluff overlooking the Pine River valley, Ruskview has been described as "the most scenic of the Escarpment's ghost towns", with a view described as "spectacular".[3][4][5][6]

History

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The first settler was Joseph Lennox, who purchased crown land here in 1848.[4]

The settlement was called "Blackbank" until 1875, when that name was given to a settlement a short distance west. In 1883, a post office opened at the original Blackbank and was named "Ruskview", after William Rusk, an early settler, as well as for the scenic view of the valley from the settlement.[4][7] Mail was brought to Ruskview twice weekly by horseback or by foot, delivered by 15 year-old Seymour Newell. The first postmaster was Joseph Reid, who had built a house, store, and blacksmith shop. A second blacksmith shop later opened at the settlement.[4]

A school was built in the early 1890s, and a Temperance Lodge had been founded by 1895.[4][8] In 1908, an Orange Lodge was founded.[4] That same year, Ruskview was noted as having a sawmill.[9] In 1914, a branch of the Federated Women's Institute was founded.[10]

The post office closed in 1916.[7]

A view of the Pine River valley from Ruskview. The home on the right was formerly the general store and post office.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ruskview". Natural Resources Canada. October 6, 2016.
  2. ^ "SGC 2011 - 3522016 - Mulmur - Census subdivision". Statistics Canada. November 2, 2016. Archived from the original on Aug 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Hewitt, D. F. (1971). "The Niagara Escarpment" (PDF). Ontario Department of Mines and Northern Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 29, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Mulmur Township Settlement Area Descriptions and Signs" (PDF). Mulmur Township. Archived from the original (PDF) on Oct 29, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Kelly, Deirdre (March 28, 2008). "Old Country Store at a Celebrity Crossroads". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on Jan 1, 2024.
  6. ^ "2014 Special Events & Activities Guide" (PDF). Dufferin County Museum and Archives. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on Mar 12, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Ruskview". Library and Archives Canada. May 27, 2014.[dead link]
  8. ^ "County Cream - District Deeds". The Northern Advance. March 7, 1895. Archived from the original on Oct 29, 2017 – via Barrie Public Library Digital Collections.
  9. ^ Mercer, Adam G. (1908). Lovell's Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada. J. Lovell. pp. 800.
  10. ^ "Ruskview Women's Institute". Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Digital Collections. Archived from the original on Oct 29, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.