Looking at the north bank of the Little Manatee River close to its intersection with the Bay. Fishing was an important early industry in Ruskin.

Lavender's was the principal store for the Ruskin area through the 1940s. Located on the NW corner of Hwy 41 and College Avenue. Utlimately, it burned down

Well attended concert at Ruskin Amphitheater.

Partial page 1 of April 1910 edition (#2) and complete supplement of July 1910 (#3). Together, these two photocopies of the Ruskin News (the official newspaper of early Ruskin) will help the reader understand something of the disagreements that led early colonists to create a new Commongood Bylaws in 1910,replacing an earlier management, seemingly out of disagreement with the way that Manager A. B. Hawk was reporting to the Society. Much of the new by-laws are contained here as are the election results approving the new by laws.

Early picture of Bahia Beach, frequently used for early advertising purposes. Note the large Ruskin Marina sign on the right.

While considerable portions of this Minute Book are difficult to read, it is a very important record of the first year for the Ruskin Commongood Society. Indexing did not produce usable results, so unfortunately a researcher will have to read through each page.

Clarence Harding wrote a significant number of articles on the environment, the history, and life in and around South County. This is a collection of articles written by Harding that appeared mostly in the Shopper Observer News, although there are a few articles from the Bradenton Herald.

Pauline Dickman graduated from Ruskin College with a degree in Home Economics. These are random notes from her experiences at Ruskin College. while the interviewer is unknown, it is believed that these notes represents extemporaneous comments from Pauline.

There is an ongoing debate on whether or not Ruskin Florida was established as a Socialist experiment or not. This ledge demonstrates that many Ruskin residents were dues paying members of the Socialist Party in Florida. Yet, by itself, this book doesn't answer the question. There were many branches of the Socialist Party in America and George Miller, was likely of a more mild, reform party loyalist because the primary parties didn't fully address social inequities in the United States. Miller was more of a Christian Socialist and communitarian, although it is likely that most views of the party were held by at least some members of the community.

Ruskin's first library was opened in 1926 in the home of Harriett Orcutt, our first librarian. This is a partial list of the initial holdings of the library. Note the high emphasis on history and the French language. Also there is an extensive list of classic literature. Missing, at least from this list, are two of Ms. Orcutt's own books: A Modern Love Story, and The Empire of the Invisibles. Later the library was moved to the Ruskin Woman's Club building (formerly the President's Home for Ruskin College.)