14

Irene Creighton's 'selling' letter written to the employees
20th century
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
North Shore Archives

15

When Scotsburn Co-operative Ltd. took over the Creamery they assured employees that no one would lose their jobs and also offered them shares in the company. Under direction of the Scotsburn Co-operative, the feed mill operation continued in much the same manner as it had been previously except large 18 wheeler trucks brought the grain rather than trains.

Also in 1968 another building was added - this became known as the hardware store and people could now pay for and collect their purchases there. It sold barbed wire, motor oil, salt licks all kinds of animal feeds. Specific 'Chicken Days' were also held at the hardware store where large numbers of different kinds of birds were brought in for sale. Later it carried a full range of gardening goods.

16

Chicken Days at the Co-op
20th century
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
North Shore Archives

17

Scotsburn bought the Creamery in 1968.
20th century
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
North Shore Archives

18

By 1986 the only two creameries still in operation were the Creamery at Tatamagouche, under control of Scotsburn and the large creamery at Scotsburn itself. The Scotsburn Co-operative had bought out the creameries at Brookfield, Great Village, Malagash and Oxford and had begun consolidating small dairies in northern Colchester County. Cream supplies had been declining quickly since 1960, with farms shifting to milk production or beef cattle.

In the early 1990's the Creamery in Tatamagouche was a milk depot, with milk and products brought from Stellarton on large trucks. Five days a week two small trucks delivered to local homes and stores in Tatamagouche, Earltown ,Wentworth, Westchester, Pugwash and along the North Shore. Butter production continued in Tatamagouche until 1992 when Scotsburn closed down the Tatamagouche Creamery, though the company continues to this day to produce butter made at another location under the Tatamagouche brand name. The feed mill and hardware store continued operation until Scotsburn ceased all business at the Creamery site in 1995. Ronald Mingo recalls that even in 1995, the area around the mill and store was constantly busy with customer's cars and farm trucks. When the warehouse, hardware and mill finally closed in 1995, Eric Hasket was the manager. Many people were upset because of the loss of work, and the ending of an important era in Tatamagouche history.

19

View of Creamery Square from the top of the feed mill
21st century
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
Shirley Brinkhurst

20

The buildings and land at the Creamery site were granted to the community by Scotsburn and currently an ambitious project of renovation and conservation is underway. In June of 2009 the Creamery Square Heritage Centre opened it's doors to the public. The remodelled interior of the Creamery building now houses heritage displays on local history ,local unique fossils, the Anna Swan Giantess, the North Shore Archives, as well as telling the story of the Creamery itself. The Heritage Centre is part two of the project, the first - the Farmers' Market building being completed in 2006. The third phase of construction - that of a Performing Arts Centre and interpretative boatbuilding workshop, which incorporates the old icehouse. together with linking courtyards and landscaping, is currently underway and is expected to be completed in 2010.

21

Inside the Heritage Centre - The Brule Fossil Collection
290 million years
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
Brule Fossil Society

22

Inside the Heritage Centre - The Creamery Exhibit
20th century
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
Sunrise Trail Museum

23

Inside the Heritage Centre - Sunrise Trail Museum: ship building display
!9th century
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
Sunrise Trail Museum

24

The feedmill was about to be demolished, having started to disintegrate over the years, but it has been recently purchased by a local resident, and already the roof and windows have been weatherproofed, and the interior cleaned out, prior to some planned development in keeping with the Creamery Site.

25

Repairs to roof of feed mill in 2009
21st century
The Tatamagouche Creamery, Creamery Road, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada


Credits:
Shiley Brinkhurst