Our History

MERA - McDonalds Corners/Elphin Recreation and Arts - is located in the village of McDonalds Corners,in Lanark Highlands in the northern part of Lanark County, Ontario. The building was a one-room schoolhouse for about 100 years, then became a recreation hall and municipal office for the Township of Lavant, Dalhousie & North Sherbrooke. In late 1997, the township was amalgamated with several other municipalities into the new Municipality of Lanark Highlands and the building was no longer needed as an office.

A group of community members who felt that the building was a valuable community resource arranged to take over its management. "The MERA Schoolhouse" is now a very busy community arts centre hosting a wide variety of activities reflecting the different interests of local residents of all ages. MERA is a registered not-for-profit organization and is the only organization in Lanark Country soley dedicate to community arts.

In a 1991 video of the history of McDonald's Corners, Mary Robinson showed this photo and said it was taken about 1880. She also pointed out the boy who was to become her grandfather, and said that the bearded man standing in the back, third from right, was Mr. Purdon who was a school trustee. This photo, still in its original frame, was donated to the Lanark County Archives.