Ridgeway in Fort Erie in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

314 Ridge Road

Downtown Ridgeway Business Improvement Area

Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 23, 2026

1. 314 Ridge Road - Marker

Inscription. This building at 314 Ridge Road was built as a butcher shop circa 1910, and by 1913 was owned by Henry Boulding. At that time Ridgeway did not have electrical service, so to provide refrigeration in the store there was an ice house out back which would be piled with blocks of ice brought from Lake Erie and packed in sawdust. Those blocks of ice would stay frozen all summer long, and be brought indoors a few at a time to cool the indoor ice boxes. R.M. Disher in his book "Robbie" describes the bringing of ice from the lake as a kind of exciting winter parade "with blocks of ice on flat-topped bob sleighs pulled by great teams of horses festooned with cheery bells. People from miles around with sleighs joined the procession and kids rode back and forth standing on the bob runners."

By the 1940's the business was owned by the Winn family, and in 1947 was told to Ruby Cooper who owned it until at least 1978. Over the years she advertised groceries, hand crafts, gifts, clothing, and paperback novels. But Ruby Cooper's was best known for penny candy and many Ridgeway residents have fond memories of stopping in there for a little bag of gobstoppers or other sweets for 5 cents. Dezzy's Pizza (Robert Desmarais) was located here through the 1990's, and substantial renovations were done when it opened as the Latte Kaffe (Heather Lennie in 2008). It was purchased by Denine and Teny Scheiche in 2015, and Shan Harper opened her business J.E. Harper Travel that same year.

Research & text by Ada Shek

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 42° 53′ N, 79° 3.115′ W. Marker is in Fort Erie, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Ridgeway. It is on Ridge Road North, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 Ridge Rd N, Fort Erie ON L0S 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 315 Ridge Road (a few steps from this marker); 307 Ridge Road (within shouting distance of this marker); 282 Ridge Road (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Battle of Ridgeway / Bataille de Ridgeway (about 120 meters away); 356 Ridge Road (about 120 meters away); 264 Ridge Road North (about 150 meters away); 264 Ridge Road (about 150 meters away); Bertie Township Hall (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Erie.

314 Ridge Road - Marker in context image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 23, 2026

2. 314 Ridge Road - Marker in context

Photo faces east and south-east.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2026, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario.