As you meander down the Shore Road, highway #245 just...
The Merigomish Schoolhouse Marketplace – A Delightful Place!
As you meander down the Shore Road, highway #245 just 15 minutes outside of New Glasgow, you will discover the beautiful community of Merigomish. Tucked across from its beautiful location overlooking the Merigomish wharf with a saltwater view, is a lovely repurposed historic old schoolhouse. If this little schoolhouse could talk, it would share its gratitude for how the small community came together to make it the gathering place it was always meant to be.
The schoolhouse was originally built as a one-room school in 1890 and ceased operating as an educational facility in 1976. It functioned for many years as a community centre run by volunteers but fell into disrepair after the group disbanded. However, in 2007, a group of determined residents vowed to restore this heart of the community. After seven long years of hard work, dedication, and support the building was officially opened in the fall of 2014. In summer 2015, the weekly Schoolhouse Marketplace & Cafe was born.
The experience begins as soon as you enter the parking lot where the sounds of the wind, waves, and seabirds of the rural seaside location delight the senses. A few folks are standing in front of the Kiosk reading information about local history, while a young family is kicking around a soccer ball that they found in the Pictou County playbox to work up a bit of an appetite before going inside to grab lunch at the Café. Stop, take a deep breath, and let the stress of your week melt away before entering.
As soon as you walk through the front door of the Marketplace, the smell of breakfast cooking wafts through the air and quickly finds its way to your nose. Your taste buds are tingling with the thought of tasting this home cooking made with love. And don’t forget the local haddock chowder, freshly baked bread, local fruits, and more. Your attention turns to the welcoming sound of laughter and mingling of happy customers enjoying the relaxed and friendly atmosphere all while ambient music plays in the background. There are many vendors offering not only their goods and food items but a welcoming hello and conversation. There are people of all ages and diverse backgrounds, all sharing the same experience. What a truly delightful place!
An interesting footnote: This is the Marketplace's second season participating in the Nourishing Communities program organized by Farmers' Market of Nova Scotia (FMNS) in collaboration with two local partner organizations. This program assists local families to access fresh and nutritious local foods and helps support local producers by bringing new customers to the market. Previous years have shown that many program participants felt an increased sense of belonging to the community and made new friends, all while supporting their local Farmer's Market. What a win-win!
I believe this quote by Jean Vanier sums it up perfectly, “One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals.”
The Marketplace is Open every Sunday between 10am - 1:00pm from April to December