Zurich Citizens News, 1974-03-07, Page 5THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1974
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
History of the Hensall Co -Op
(by Elgin Hendrick, secretary
of Hensall District Co -Op)
It is my pleasure, at this
time, to make some attempt
at reviewing the past history
of what is now one of the larg-
est farmer -owned agribusines-
ses in Huron County.
To begin with, we have to
realize that farm co-operatives
started in a very small way. ,
In Ontario, they were almost
non-existent until the 1920's
—and were known then as "Farm
Buying Clubs, " and were organ-
ized to supply their members
with coal, twine, fertilizer
etc„ on an "off -car basis,"
In the year 1936, a group of
NAME TELLS STORY
The new Hensall District
Co- Op building is located on
Davidson Drive, a new street
named by the directors of the
organization. The street is
named in memory of the late
Malcolm Davidson, a devoted
director of the group who met
his untimely death several
years ago. The name Drive
was added instead of Street to
indicate the initiative shown
by the late Mr. Davidson when
he was a director of the Co -Op.
farmers in this area decided to
establish a fertilizer mixing
station in Hensall, beside the
railraod track. After operating
this mixing station for two
years, a Co-operative Comp-
any was formed in 1939, with
a charter under the name of
South Huron Farmers Co-oper-
ative.
The first board of directors
were• President, Albert Hend-
rick; secretary, T. N, Forsyth;
directors E.B. Horner, James
Wright, A,B, Bell, William
Bell, John C, Bell and William
Alexander, The profit and loss
statement for that year shows
total sales of $17, 251.77 and a
net saving of $l, 471.12.
In 1946, the company was
reorganized, and named the
Hensall District Co-operative.
The first board of this new org-
anization were, President,
John Armstrong, vice-president,
Sam Hendrick; directors; Har-
vey Taylor, Edison Forrest,
William Alexander, E.B, Horn-
er and secretary, Bert Klopp.
That year, the total sales were
$69, 738.45 and net savings of
$5, 598.33.
1948 was another important
year with the purchase of the
Zurich Flour and Feed Mill
and the entry into Petroleum
/Products,
In 1956, the Brucefield mill
was purchased, and a new bulk
fertilizer building was erected
in Hensall in 1959. The present
modern feed mill at Zurich
was officially opened in Febru -
ary 1962, and the E.L. Mickle
& Son grain elevator was pur-
chased in 196 8.
This move into grain handl-
PAGE 5
ing was a major step for Hen-
sall Co-op, and created many
problems and many satisfactions
The capacity at purchase time
was 160, 000 bushels. It now
holds approximately 400, 000
bushels.
During the last five years,
your board and management
have one main objective --to
co-ordinate all Hensall facilit-
ies to one location. Thanks to
their efforts, and also thanks to
the loyal patronage of the
members, the objective has
been accomplished with the off-
icial opening of the new store,
offices and warehouse.
Salaries of 30 employees help
economy of entire trading area
At the present time there are
about 30 persons employed in
the overall operation of the
Hensall District Co -Operative,
with a total payroll of almost
$241, 000. Eight of these empl-
oyees are working in the store
and office in Hensall,
As well as the head office,
warehouse, and store located in
Hensall, the Co -Op operates
two branches -- one at Bruce -
field and the other at Zurich.
Both branches are doing a very
successful amount of business.
About one-half of the total
amount of business being trans-
acted at the present time is the
result of the elevator purchase
in 1968, where all the grain
crops and beans are handled for
members.
The petroleum business has
also shown steady growth over
the past few years, and at the
present time the Co -Op has
their own service department in
operation, to look after custom-
er's problems as well as regular
servicing.
In the weeks ahead the fertil-
izer and seed department of the
operation will be extremely
busy, getting ready for spring
seeding time.
CONGRATULATIONS
HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OP
on the Official Opening
of your new facilities 9
We are pleased to supply printed
material for this energetic organization!
F'rirttirt1
A. B. •►OFFSET and LETTERPRESS
BOX 12
ZURICH, ONTARIO
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your fine ne ;,;I building to ho ase
offices, warehouse a ad retail store
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