The definition of a “Stile” is a structure of steps which allows people passage through or over a fence, wall or hedgerow and prevents farm animals from doing the same.

This was the historical purpose of the Ridge Stile on Wolfville Ridge, Nova Scotia for a very long time. It allowed cattle farmers from Gaspereau Valley to cross over the Ridge while moving their cattle from the valley to grazing pastures in the Minas Basin.

Over time, “The Stile” lost its purpose as cattle farming gave way to orchards and other field vegetables production in the Wolfville area and neighboring communities. This resulted, in recent history, for the small area around “The Style” to be converted into a park with quaint walking trails and was given the name “Ridge Stile Park“.

This park has now been around for over one hundred years and it offers one of the most breath taking views of Gaspereau Valley from the top of Highland Avenue on the Ridge. This view is not only breath taking, over time, it has been among the most iconic images of the Wolfville region.

It would not be hard to argue that this picture perfect view of the settled and cultivated agricultural countryside of Gaspereau Valley is nothing less than John Constable‘s rendition of English countryside or Claude Lorrain’s Campagna.

There was a time when people traveled distances to experience this picturesque scene of The Gaspereau Valley. Although spectators of this scenery have dissipated today, the scene still holds all its appeal and glory as it did in the past.

Since the nineteenth century, both the local residents and visitors of the region have been attracted by the bucolic beauty of the overlooking scene and enjoyed this compact park as a gathering place and for its trails. The park was a place for families to congregate and enjoy a cookout or a picnic as seen in this image back from nineteen hundreds.

The park is now maintained by the Wolfville Rotary Club and the town of Wolfville. Although the view of the Gaspereau Valley is still breath taking, the park seems to have lost its luster and its glory days seem to have been left behind. The view has also changed now with the second growth of trees now crowds the view of the valley floor. The stile structure has deteriorated with rusting posts and crumbling steps.

Although prosperous farms, orchards, and vineyards extend to the forest fringe up the abrupt sides of the Ridge and South Mountain, they are now obscured. The air, however, still sweet with fragrant of fruit, vegetable and farms of the Gaspereau Valley. One can still sense the promise of a prosperous and thriving valley below and the potential for the park to return to its golden age; and become a family destination as opposed to a recollection of its hay days.

Below are words of Esther Clark Wright (A notable Atlantic Canadian historian who at the end of her life received the Order of Canada for her lifetime contributions to Canadian scholarship.) as she so eloquent describes the charm experienced by early hikers and visitors to the Ridge Stile Park:

“The walk up Highland Avenue–some might find it steep and a bit tedious–is like a magic carpet transporting us to another land.” Once over the crest of the ridge, the hill “drops so steeply that little in the valley is hidden from us. It is a narrow valley, and the orchards drop down the lower slopes of the hill on which we are standing, and other orchards march up the opposite hillsides. …In the bottom of the valley a glint of water catches the eye, and we trace the winding course of the Gaspereau River, outlined by trees. The white houses and the white church of the village, the farm houses and their barns, the roads and paths, are all spread out before us. To the right, the hill on which we are standing thrusts out and prevents us from seeing the upper reaches of the Gaspereau. To the left, the valley widens out toward the lower tidal section of the river. To the right, all is blue and veiled in shadow. To the left, there is greenness and sunshine. The view from the stile is so compact, so contained, so miniature, that it calls to mind English scenes, the Wye valley, perhaps, or one of the Yorkshire dales.”

As part of developing Wolfridge Vineyard we aspire to restore the charm and glory of Ridge Stile Park to its rightful state as a historical local landmark and convert it back to a destination point and a social focus to celebrate life for the town of Wolfville and residents of the Ridge alike.

Again in the words of Esther Clark Wright as she so vividly depicts this celebration of life:

“Over the brow of the hill the thousands have come, laden with kettles and pots, with baskets and rugs, old Wolfville residents, summer visitors, lovers hand in hand, college classes, high school classes, boy scouts, girl guides, strangers and sojourners, their laughter echoing down the years, their songs lilting in memory.”

Note: This post references: The View from The Stile June 20, 2014 by Randall House.