Excerpt from haldimandcounty.ca:
243 Haldimand Highway 54, Cayuga, ON.
Ruthven Estate and its immediate demesne are worthy of designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act for historical and architectural reasons, for its uniqueness and remarkably high quality of its complement of detail and long association.
Ruthven Estate, the main house and its wing designed by the master building/architect, John Latshaw, is considered his masterpiece in the domestic field and Ontario’s finest house in the Greek Revival style, believed to be without peer in the whole of Canada and vying with the best in the United States of America.
Historically the property is important for its connection with five generations of the Thompson family, entrepreneurs responsible for milling and related enterprises on this section of the Lower Grand River as well as being involved in early improvements to the waterway. Earlier generations of this originally Scots family were much involved in political and military as well as community affairs. Granted some 1200 acres of lands by the Crown in the early 1840’s the estate still has contiguous lands of that or greater area with important natural habitats of woodlands, wetlands as well as agricultural area.
The buildings, particularly the main house and its rear wing, contain many possessions such as decorative fittings, furniture and art, are part of the Thompson family collection, as well as documents pertaining to the estate, local history and military and parliamentary affairs. These, apart from the architectural fittings, do not form part of this designation, but are included under a separate easement.
The ground is closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Only the gate house is seen.
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