Historic Archives | Sweat Equity – The Grimsby Homebuilding Co-operative 1953

Sweat Equity Exhibit featured during Doors Open, 2016

Together around the original time clock are (from left) original co-op builder Betty Dale, Mary Marrocco and her mother Rita Marrocco, (author of The Light from One Candle), […]

The 81 families in the Grimsby Homebuilding Co-operative

Grimsby Homebuilding Co-operative Families Andrews, Dave & Ivy Atlee, Charlie and Sheila Bailey, John & Ethel Becker, Frank & Mrs. Blake, John & Patricia Blais, Oscar & Annette […]

Co-op daughter celebrates the 25th anniversary

Carolin celebrates as her Dad, Walter, happily burns his paid-up 25-year mortgage. Hurray!

Father Marrocco and fellow priests blessed each of the 14 homes.

On the completion of their neighbourhood, Father Marrocco and fellow priests blessed the 14 homes of the Family Home Builder Co-operative on Marysfield Dr. near Brampton. With the […]

Back yard during construction

The back yard view as Maureen and her children, Bill and Joanne, look out on a sea of mud.

Father Marrocco at the ground- breaking ceremony in Hull (Gatineau), Quebec.

This was the first of many ground-breaking ceremonies Father Marrocco would attend throughout Ontario. This one in Deschênes, near Hull (Gatineau), Quebec, would have been particularly meaningful to […]

25th anniversary itinerary, signed by fellow co-operators

Bob Walsh, once known as “Mr. Co-op,” wrote an “everyman and woman” story about the co-op experience for the anniversary itinerary. Charlie Gallagher wrote about the challenges and […]

Father Francis Marrocco

Father Marrocco would be a key figure in the ISA in 1949, inspiring and challenging his students. He had travelled to Antigonish, to study co-operative methods being taught […]

50th Anniversary of the Sherbrien, Cathedral Heights and Lakedale Co-op Homebuilders.

As they had on the 25th & 30th Anniversaries, they organized a gathering for their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They supplied and served sandwiches. It was a […]

ISA students as co-op builders

It’s important to note that the students of the ISA were motivated by social action, not by the building of houses. The ISA night courses encouraged thought, discussion […]

John Blake on the building site

John Blake recorded it all, beginning with their study groups through to the final days of the build. His footage of the co-operative build is seen throughout these […]

Tompkinsville : North America’s first housing co-operative

The builders and their families named their community “Tompkinsville” to honour Father Jimmy Tompkins, the man who had encouraged their co-operative spirit. Theirs was the first housing co-operative […]