Ruskview Explained

Official Name:	Ruskview
Settlement Type:	Unincorporated rural community
Pushpin Map:	Ontario#Canada
Coordinates:	44.2356°N -80.1217°W
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Canada
Subdivision Type1:	Province
Subdivision Name1:	Ontario
Subdivision Type2:	County
Subdivision Name2:	Dufferin
Subdivision Type3:	Township
Subdivision Name3:	Mulmur
Timezone:	Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:	-5
Timezone Dst:	EDT
Utc Offset Dst:	-4
Blank1 Name:	GNBC Code
Blank1 Info:	FCMZK^[1]

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

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

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]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ruskview . Natural Resources Canada . October 6, 2016 .
2. Web site: SGC 2011 - 3522016 - Mulmur - Census subdivision . Statistics Canada . November 2, 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808234920/https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVD&TVD=116940&CVD=116949&CPV=3522016&CST=01012011&CLV=4&MLV=4 . Aug 8, 2020 .
3. Web site: Hewitt . D. F. . The Niagara Escarpment . Ontario Department of Mines and Northern Development . 1971 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171029065545/http://www.geologyontario.mndmf.gov.on.ca/mndmfiles/pub/data/imaging/IMR035/IMR035.pdf . Oct 29, 2017 .
4. Web site: Mulmur Township Settlement Area Descriptions and Signs . Mulmur Township . October 28, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171029121008/http://mulmur.ca/content/visitors-centre/heritage/settlement-areas/binder-settlement-area-descriptions-and-signs.pdf . Oct 29, 2017 .
5. News: Kelly . Deirdre . March 28, 2008 . Old Country Store at a Celebrity Crossroads . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240101223025/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/old-country-store-at-a-celebrity-crossroads/article7512227/ . Jan 1, 2024 .
6. Web site: 2014 Special Events & Activities Guide . Dufferin County Museum and Archives . 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312002355/http://www.dufferinmuseum.com/Portals/0/2014%20DCMA%20Event%20Guide%20web.pdf . Mar 12, 2016 .
7. Web site: Ruskview . Library and Archives Canada . May 27, 2014 .
8. News: March 7, 1895 . County Cream - District Deeds . The Northern Advance . Barrie Public Library Digital Collections . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171029065641/http://images.ourontario.ca/barrie/2766844/page/1?q=Ruskview&docid=OOI.2766844 . Oct 29, 2017 .
9. Book: Mercer, Adam G. . Lovell's Gazetteer of the Dominion of Canada . J. Lovell . 1908 . 800.
10. Web site: Ruskview Women's Institute . Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario Digital Collections . October 28, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171029172952/http://collections.fwio.on.ca/3201959/data . Oct 29, 2017 .