new 12,000 square foot structure housed a dry goods section and a complete grocery department. The former store became the hardware department, office, and Co-operators Insurance. The new grocery and dry goods addition opened April 1979, with first manager, Bernard Shea, cutting the ribbon.

Present Co-op Building Supplies.

The year 1982 saw the opening of an in-store bakery and installa- tion of an auxiliary generator for emergency power to the main store. Another milestone was attained in 1983 when sales of six million dollars were reached. In December 1985, a new building supply showroom/warehouse, 60’ X 128’ was opened by charter members Errol Stetson, Alton Rayner, and Andrew Frizzell. During the mid 80’s good growth was experienced and as 1990 came in, sales reached $8,800,000 and membership over 1600 was obtained.

From the $15,648.00 in sales recorded in 1940 and 42 charter members, the O’Leary Farmers Co-op has come a long way. The orga- nization is what it is today because fifty years ago, a group of men and women wanted to accomplish something the co-operative way; and those who followed have shared their ideals. O’Leary Farmers Co-operative is a monument that commemorates people working together and the potential that co-operation has in any region.

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