1

During the early years, Montreal Mining Company had a monopoly on all the mercantile business. One story tells of an innovative entrepreneur, named Thomas Marks, finding a way around the rules governing the selling of merchandise by selling stock from a schooner in the winter, then a scow closer to shore. The Montreal Mining Company eventually relented and allowed Mr. Marks to pay annual rent to the company to build a store on company land.
Another version of the same story tells of the Marks brothers from Hilton Beach loading fresh produce, meat and lumber, from St. Joseph Island, on a barge. They would anchor the barge in the middle of the bay and the people from Bruce Mines would row out to make their purchases.

2

Bruce Mines did not have a traditional bank in the early days, however, there was a branch of the Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation where the Cornish miners could deposit their savings.
An industry, mentioned in 1871, that is mining related is the "cooper shop and stave factory" of Thomas Paynter. The two other cooper shops made "fish barrels".
In 1907, Adolphus Fauley's death was reported while he worked in the butcher shop.

"…he was seized unexpectedly with heart failure and expired immediately."

He was an associate of George Jackson's in the butcher business.

3

In 1880 Mr. James Robinson applied for mail service for the area of Rydal Bank and received it. He named the post office Rydal Bank, which later became the name of the town.

4

Rydal Bank, Ontario
1899
Rydal Bank, Ontario, Canada

5

Courtesy of the Rydal Bank Historical Society.

6

John Keast's Harness Shop
1900
Rydal Bank, Ontario, Canada

7

Courtesy of the Rydal Bank Historical Society.

8

Brass cash register
1891
Bruce Mines Museum, Bruce Mines, Ontario, Canada

9

The Bruce Mines Spectator was an independent, weekly newspaper started by Charles Rickaby on March 30, 1901. He operated the business with his son, Fred W. Rickaby, until around 1907, when Fred took charge of the newspaper. The paper ran, with various owners, from 1901-1956 when it amalgamated with another paper from Blind River.

10

Official Telephone Directory for Northern Ontario.
1914
Bruce Mines, Ontario, Canada

11

In 1903 the telephone system came into the area with the main switchboard at Bruce Mines.

In the Bruce Mines section of the 1914 directory there are listings for the following:
Ballantyne, O.T. - Hardware
Canadian Pacific Ry. Co. - E.R. Miller, agent
Hart, Dr. A.P. - Physician
Jackson, A.D. - Gen. Store
Jackson & Fauley - Butchers
Lake Huron & North Ont. Ry. Co. - Office
Loscock, J. - Livery
Martin Inter. Trap Rock Co. - Quarry
Munroe, Victor - General Store
Peterson, N.H. - Barrister
Roach, S.J. - Hotel
Royal Bank of Canada
Sexsmith, O.F. - Druggist
"Spectator" - F.W. Rickaby, Publisher
Tees, D.B. - Confectionery
and 11 Residences.

Rydal Bank Telephone System - Connecting at Bruce Mines listed:
Jackson & Mills - General Store
3 Farmer listings and 2 Residences.

Courtesy of the Rydal Bank Historical Society

12

James Mills Harness Maker shop.
1905
Bruce Mines, Ontario, Canada

13

Photo courtesy of the Bruce Mines Museum.

14

Bruce Mines skating rink.
1905
Bruce Mines, Ontario, Canada