Social History Archives | Page 2 of 11 | Sweat Equity – The Grimsby Homebuilding Co-operative 1953

Brother and sister on the steps

Children in the co-op neighbourhood were inevitably photographed on their front steps.

Sofia on the shoreline

Twenty years later, Walter’s granddaughter Sofia Mucci was able to enjoy the waterfront at Murray Street Park. Walter’s own children had known the spot as a great place […]

Back yard during construction

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

Co-op builders shingling the houses along Lakeside Drive in the early part of the build.

Although the co-operators did a lot of the grunt work, they learned and became very good at certain tasks. John Rowan with John Colleary (in white cap) who […]

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 […]

The Lakedale Co-op worksite

They worked through the winter and by the summer of 1956, all the families would be moved into their co-operatively built homes. Workers would make frequent visits to […]

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 […]

Marrocco Homebuilding Co-operative Society at a gathering with Father Marrocco

Gerald Clarke, was the chief editor of A Guide to Co-operative Housing, which was researched and created by the adult night school students of the Institute of Social […]

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 […]