The Early Years

Recent History
The Early Years (1927 - 1943) | Before the Fire (1943 - 1975)
The Expansion Years (1975 - 1992)

The Early Years

There have been and continues to be many dedicated people that have shaped the development and growth of Northumberland Co-operative Ltd. This historical account only highlights the events.

1927
The Co-operative movement in the Maritime provinces was influenced by the teachings of Dr. Moses Coady. The co-operative movement had from the beginning emphasized the importance of promoting the dignity of the worker, and this dignity was enhanced by the opportunity for achievement and success. This was the message that sent local Northumberland County farmers venturing out to organize the Northumberland Co-operative Creamery Ltd., the forerunner of Northumberland Co-operative Limited.

1930
The depression era brought hardship and a more desperate struggle for survival. Most families lived on farms. Cream was a prized commodity and often there was extra cream. So it was that dairy farmers banded together to ship their cream to a central butter making facility.

1933
G.P. Burchill, later Senator Burchill chaired the initial meetings to establish the Northumberland Agricultural Council.

There were a number of people instrumental in organizing and building the foundation for the co-operative venture; they were a most interesting and colorful group of personalities.

1942
Certificate of incorporation was issued for Northumberland Co-operative Creamery Limited. A new co-operative had been born. A co-operative is described as "a voluntary association of people organized to serve themselves through their own business on a non-profit basis".

Pictures of the first board

Frank A. Menzies First President	Frank Dolan	Charles Butler
J.MacO'Brien First Vice-President	Walter Cameron	Ira Goodfellow
Frank Holland	Howard Copp	G.P.Burchill