Residential Archives | Page 2 of 4 | Sweat Equity – The Grimsby Homebuilding Co-operative 1953

Sweat equity at work

By 1954, after a year of study and preparation, the co-op homebuilders were well into the sweat equity part of the build. They worked in teams, in the […]

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

Father Marrocco had inspired the co-op movement in Ontario in 1952, through the work of his students at the Institute of Social Action. By 1955 he was visiting […]

The whole gang on the steps

There were different age cohorts within the kid community. The older kids had moved in at age 9 or 10, though most were only 2 or 3. A […]

A kids’ world of play

This photo best illustrates why the families studied, built and endured. How poignant that the children are digging together, and how wonderful they have the space and […]

Dorothy and Pat with their children

Co-operative homebuilding required the strong alliance of husband and wife as well as the teamwork of the men who would build together. The wives were vigilant on the […]

Homes and neighbours

A sense of community had begun when they first gathered in 1953. The culmination of their study, work and co-operation was a well-built home and a fine community […]

Lakedale homes almost complete

Rain or shine, snow or sleet, the build continued, with the men working into the evenings until it was too dark to carry on. Some nights they strung […]

Lunch break on the site

Most often the men would rush home to eat before heading out to the site. On an early spring day, these fellows enjoyed a welcome snack at break […]

The Lakedale Co-operators

Doug Wilson of the Lakedale group captured colour photos of his fellow co-operators. Together with photos collected from families and footage by John Blake of Sherbrien-Cathedral Heights co-op, […]

The Hill family

Derwyn joined the co-op while working as a plasterer in the family business (The Hill Brothers). In 1963 he was ordained after completing courses at Knox College, so […]

Worley house on Stewart Street

Years later, almost everyone can remember a red clay or a mud story, whether it was about getting stuck in the mud or about Mom trying to clean […]

A visit to the neighbours

Albertine would battle the red clay all the years of tending her magnificent vegetable garden.