History

“It has been a fun adventure, finding ways to evolve the cafe while paying homage to the history of the property. Undoubtedly, this adds to the quirkiness, but in a quaint way.” The 1872 MckInley schoolhouse is no stranger to retaining its character through the chapters. Located on the oldest road in Brunswick, it has remained a historic Brunswick icon.

Originally a two-room schoolhouse with an outhouse, the children all walked to school or rode a horse drawn carriage. “Stone Road” (Route 7) was the main route, especially for stage coaches. Schoolhouse District 5 functioned long enough to have plumbing installed and the addition of a room. After about a century, the school was integrated into the Tamarac school district. 

The Mckinley schoolhouse didn’t stay idle for long. It was utilized temporarily while the district expanded, then turned into a youth recreation center in the 1970s. Bands would play and teens would mingle, and parents objected. Almost as short lived as that, the building was a printing press for a year. It’s impressive house sound the structure of the building proved to be. 

Come 1981, the property was purchased and renovated by Frederick Fowler. Planned from old photographs, the schoolhouse was spruced up, and retained all its historic charm. The improvements were so impressive, it won the Beautification Award. Frederick established his business, Fowler Law, which practiced there for 32 years, before relocating. Within those years, the schoolhouse underwent multiple renovations, including the construction of the covered bridge to adjoin the garage that was built years prior. All of the labor was local talent. 

In 2015, many of the same team renovated the law firm into a versatile space with a commercial kitchen. It was in this kitchen Bella Bounty began. The ability to start the kitchen and cafe space with a blank slate enabled the execution of blueprints, and over the course of 4 years, it was complete. Common Crumb was ready for liftoff, October 10, 2019. Since 2015, there has been continuous acquisition of used, quality equipment to build the kitchen and cafe. The vintage Vulcan convection oven and espresso machine are both locally sourced second hand gems. 

With the original hardwood floors and the polished schoolhouse chalkboard tables, the historical character is prominent. Dana reminisces, “I remember growing up and going to Dad’s office. There were decrepit seesaws on the side lawn and beyond the fence was the horse pasture. The seesaws (and lead chips) were removed during the second renovation. This place has always held a personal nostalgia, so it felt natural to hang swings on the trees that overlooked the seesaws. It’s a delight to watch children play there while doing my day job.” The most recent renovation of the property was the outdoor seating area. A canopied area with sleek picnic tables, and two swings offers respite and play for all ages. Now that the property is a cafe, anyone can drop in to appreciate the historical charm and local talent. The next chapter will be to add an overflow parking area to accommodate a larger crowd.