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

Harry Day – Knowing Bob Walsh of the Grimsby Co-op

Harry Day of the Sherbrien Co-op in Greensville knew Bob Walsh as “Mr. Co-op.” Sixty years after their build, contact was made with the Greensville co-op through Grimsby […]

Silent video – Blake Footage – Shingling on Stewart Street

In this short clip, someone took John’s camera and filmed Wilf Worley (in white cap) and John Blake (end of clip) shingling houses . With the Niagara Escarpment […]

Rita Marrocco in conversation with Janet Muise in 2016.

Janet Muise is sitting on the left and Rita Morrocco is sitting on the right. They are in a house. Janet: The title “A light from one candle” […]

Avryle Wilson – Co-op Kids

Avryle Wilson remembers winter traditions with the kids. Avryle Wilson sits in side a house in front of a sideboard with candles on it. Her hands are folded […]

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), […]

Bishop Francis Marrocco

The son of Italian immigrants who settled in Peterborough in 1909, Father Francis Marrocco became involved in assisting displaced persons and immigrants and working with government. As Director […]

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 […]

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 […]