Last week the overhead door closed for good on Craik Farmers Market.

After seven years, the small core group of volunteers who were keeping the market going decided this would be their last season. Friday, Sept. 21 was the market’s last sale day.

Last Tuesday, market founder Pauline Dixon, original vendor Joyce Miller and helper Marlene Stubbington were busy in the fire engine bay of Craik’s old town hall, packing up all that remained of the market’s “garage sale” merchandise.

These garage sale items were a mainstay at the farmers market, since it started the summer of 2006. The market’s purpose was to raise money to restore Craik’s old town hall and to give locals a place from which to sell their products, whether they be baked goods, garden veggies or local honey. Dixon, Miller, Carol Styles, Henry Dyck and Lyle and Gertie Bligh were the founding members.

Miller said prior to Craik’s farmers market, she used to sell her home baking at the farmers market in Moose Jaw. She recalled the days when she worked as a cook at Toppers restaurant in Davidson.

“I would work all day and come home and bake and then take 20 pies, plus cinnamon buns, tarts, cookies…I don’t know what all I took…up to Moose Jaw,” Miller said.

When Craik’s market opened up, every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Miller was able to sell her baking in Craik. She was a vendor for a few years and then became a volunteer.

Dixon said they decided to call it quits due to health reasons.

“Joyce can’t do it anymore for health reasons. Art and his brother Hritis aren’t kind to me. It’s sad to see it go, but my husband and me sometimes spend three days a week here…” Dixon said.

In the absence of a new contingent of volunteers coming forward, they opted to close the market.

To read more please see the Oct. 1 print edition of The Davidson Leader.