Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, a quaint village nestled in Colchester County, Canada, is a treasure trove of history and natural beauty. The village, whose name is derived from the native Mi'kmaq term Takǔmegoochk, meaning "Meeting of the waters," is situated on the Northumberland Strait, 50 kilometers north of Truro and 50 kilometers west of Pictou.
The first European settlers in Tatamagouche were the French Acadians, who made the area their home in the early 18th century. The village soon became a transshipment point for goods bound for the Fortress of Louisbourg.
During King George's War, Tatamagouche was the site of a significant battle. On June 15, 1745, Captain Donahew confronted Lieut. Paul Marin de la Malgue's allied force, preventing supplies and reinforcements from reaching Louisbourg before it fell to the English. This battle played a crucial role in the downfall of Louisbourg.
During the French and Indian War, the homes of the Acadians in Tatamagouche were burned as part of the Bay of Fundy Campaign (1755). Today, all that remains from that period are Acadian dykes and some French place names.
In 1765, the land that became Tatamagouche was given to British military mapmaker Colonel Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres by the British Crown. The earliest settlers of Tatamagouche from Lunenburg were families from Montbéliard on the French-German border near Switzerland.
As per the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Tatamagouche had a population of 691 living in 348 of its 387 total private dwellings.
In the 19th century, Tatamagouche had a sizable shipbuilding industry. Builders needed the lumber to produce the ships and it was common to send a completed vessel overseas loaded with lumber.
On May 17, 1824, Alexander Campbell and partners launched their first ship on the French river, a 63-foot (19 m) schooner named Elizabeth.
The Intercolonial Railway constructed its "Short Line" from Oxford Junction to Stellarton through Tatamagouche in 1887. Today, the passenger station is a bed and breakfast with restored historic rail cars located on the property.
Tatamagouche is home to several landmarks and attractions, including the Tatamagouche Creamery, the Fraser Cultural Centre, the Barrachois Harbour Yacht Club, and the Fraser Octagon House.
In September 2008, Paperny Films of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada selected Tatamagouche as the venue for the second (and last) season of The Week the Women Went. The episodes aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), starting on January 21, 2009.
