Tatamagouche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tatamagouche
Takǔmegoochk
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Village
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 Tatamagouche
Location in Nova Scotia
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Nova Scotia |
| County | Colchester |
| Electoral Districts Federal |
Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley |
| Provincial | Colchester North |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 2,037 |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (AST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (ADT) |
Tatamagouche is a small community, also known as a village, located in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Its name comes from the native Mi'kmaq term Takǔmegoochk, which means "Meeting of the waters."
This village sits on the Northumberland Strait, about 50 kilometres north of Truro. It is also 50 kilometres west of Pictou. Tatamagouche is found along the south side of Tatamagouche Bay, where the French and Waugh Rivers meet the sea.
Contents
Tatamagouche: A Look at Its Past
The first European settlers in the Tatamagouche area were the French Acadians. They arrived in the early 1700s. Tatamagouche became an important place for moving goods to Fortress of Louisbourg, a French fort.
Battle Near Tatamagouche
During King George's War, in 1745, New England forces were trying to capture Louisbourg. On June 15, 1745, Captain Donahew's forces met a French group led by Lieutenant Paul Marin de la Malgue. This French group, with many native allies, was on its way from Annapolis Royal to Louisbourg. They were bringing supplies and help to the fort.
Captain Donahew stopped the French group, forcing them ashore. This prevented them from reaching Louisbourg before it was captured by the English. The British said many French and native people were killed. This battle was important because it stopped Marin's help from reaching Louisbourg, which led to the fort's defeat.
Acadians Forced to Leave
As part of the Bay of Fundy Campaign (1755) during the French and Indian War, the homes of the Acadians in Tatamagouche were burned. Tatamagouche and nearby Wallace, Nova Scotia were among the first Acadian villages to be burned. This was because they were a key route for Acadians to supply the French Fortress Louisbourg.
Today, all that remains from that time are Acadian dykes and some French place names. In 1768, Fort Franklin was built in Tatamagouche. It was named after Michael Francklin.
New Settlers Arrive
Ten years later, on August 25, 1765, the British Crown gave the land that became Tatamagouche to Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres. He was a British mapmaker. DesBarres received 20,000 acres of land. He had to settle it with 100 Protestants within 10 years.
It was hard to find settlers because land was cheaper in other colonies. However, in 1772, some unhappy residents from Lunenburg were offered six years of free rent. This helped bring some new families to Tatamagouche.
The first settlers from Lunenburg were families from Montbéliard, a region near the French-German border. These families were Lutherans who spoke French. They had faced religious persecution and traveled to Rotterdam, then to Halifax, Nova Scotia. After a tough winter in Halifax, they moved to Lunenburg in 1753. Their French names were often changed to sound more English. Some of these early families included Bigney, Gratto, Matatall, Tattrie, Millard, Patriquin, and Langille.
More Scottish immigrants also came to the area later in the century. This happened after the Highland Clearances, which forced many people from their homes in Scotland.
During the American Revolution, American privateers attacked the property of Wellwood Waugh. He had to move from Charlottetown to Pictou, Nova Scotia. Later, Waugh was involved in an American privateer raid on Pictou. He then moved to Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. He became an important person in the community, and the Waugh River is named after him.
Building Ships and Cutting Wood
In the 1800s, Tatamagouche was a busy place for shipbuilding, much like other villages nearby. There were many trees, and sawmills started to appear along the rivers. These mills produced wood for settlers and for building ships. It was common for a finished ship to sail overseas with a load of lumber, which would then be sold.
People in Tatamagouche built five main types of ships: the schooner, brig, brigantine, barque, and clipper ship. Schooners were the most popular. There was also one barquentine built here, called the Yolande, in 1883.
Many of the larger ships, like brigs and barques, were filled with local lumber and sailed to Britain. There, both the cargo and the ship itself would be sold. Some ships sold quickly, while others took years to find a buyer. Sometimes, the owner would sail the ship over to arrange the sale. Other times, companies like Cannon, Miller, & Co. would sell the ships.
The rise of steam-powered ships eventually ended the shipbuilding industry in Tatamagouche.
The Campbell Brothers and Their Ships
On May 17, 1824, Alexander Campbell and his partners, William Mortimer and G. Smith, launched their first ship. It was a 63-foot schooner named Elizabeth, launched on the French river. They built several more ships together.
In 1830, Alexander partnered with his brothers, William and James. Their partnership ended in 1833 after an argument. The brothers then built ships separately. Alexander Campbell was the most active, building over 70 ships.
William built about a dozen ships after the partnership ended. These ships varied in size and type. Several of them carried timber to the British Isles. His last ship, the Trident, ran aground off Newfoundland on its first trip in 1842. This left William almost bankrupt. He died a poor man in 1878, even though he had other jobs.
When William stopped building ships, Alexander took over his shipyard. He built many ships, and at the busiest time, he employed about 200 men. In 1850 alone, he built eight ships.
The Railroad's Arrival and Departure
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The Intercolonial Railway built its "Short Line" through Tatamagouche in 1887. This line connected Oxford Junction to Stellarton. The railway hired the Rhodes Curry Company to build a passenger station in the village.
The Intercolonial Railway became part of the Canadian National Railways in 1918. This line, called the "Oxford Subdivision," mainly served farming communities. It also served salt mines in Malagash and Pugwash, and a quarry in Wallace.
Passenger train service through Tatamagouche stopped in the 1960s. The station was then used as an office for railway workers until 1972. It was closed and sold in 1976. Canadian National Railways stopped freight service on the line in 1986, and the tracks were removed in 1989.
Today, the old passenger station is a bed and breakfast. It even has restored historic train cars on the property. The former railway line through the village is now a walking and biking trail. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail. Tatamagouche is a great starting point for a short walk along the water or a long biking trip.
Cool Places to Visit in Tatamagouche
- The Tatamagouche Creamery is a famous landmark. Alexander Ross started it in 1925. Over 1000 local farms supplied milk to the Creamery. It made its well-known Tatamagouche Butter every day, producing almost 2000 pounds. The Creamery closed in 1992. The land and buildings were given to the village. Now, the Creamery building is home to The North Shore Archives and the Giantess Anna Swan Museum. The Brule Fossil Centre also moved its exhibit into the Creamery building.
- The Barrachois Harbour Yacht Club is just east of Tatamagouche. It offers great programs for boating and racing.
- The Fraser Cultural Centre is a good place to start your visit. It has tourist information, an art gallery, and an exhibit about the "Nova Scotia Giantess" Anna Swan.
- Every year, on the last weekend of September, Tatamagouche hosts the second largest Oktoberfest in Canada. This is a fun festival with a Bavarian theme.
- The Sutherland Steam Mill Museum is in the nearby village of Denmark.
- Dorje Denma Ling is a retreat center for Shambhala Buddhist traditions. It is in The Falls, about 10 kilometres south of the village. People from all over the world visit this peaceful place.
- The Tatamagouche Centre is a non-profit education and retreat center. It belongs to the United Church of Canada.
- The Fraser Octagon House is a special building. It is recognized for its unique, almost eight-sided shape.
Famous People From Tatamagouche
Ron Joyce, a Canadian businessman, was born in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, in 1930. He was a billionaire and helped start the popular coffee and donut chain, Tim Hortons.
Events in Tatamagouche
In September 2008, a film company chose Tatamagouche for the second season of a TV show called The Week the Women Went. The show aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) starting in January 2009.
