What's It Wednesdays - Andover CO-OP

Time to go grocery shopping

Apr 14, 2021

For 36 years, the Andover CO-OP was in the center of Andover. The first of its kind in Merrimack Valley. But its history began in the late 18th century.

The consumer cooperative movement had its start in Great Britain when tradesmen banded together to be able to buy food and basic goods at reduced prices. The earliest record is of the Fenwick Weavers’ Society which, on March 14, 1761, began selling oatmeal at a discount to their members.

The model of today’s cooperatives began in Rochdale, England. In 1843, the workers at the Rochdale cotton textile mills went on strike. The strike failed. Facing low pay and unaffordable food costs, 28 workers banded together so they could buy basic goods at a lower price. They felt that Rochdale needed another food store other than the company store. They pooled their resources, sought membership among other mill workers and in 1844, were able to open their first shop. To begin with, only flour, oatmeal, sugar, and butter were sold, but the cooperative continued to grow.

It was the principles they established which became the blueprint for future cooperative organizations.

The original Rochdale Principles defining cooperative organizations were:

Voluntary and Open membership without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.
Democratic Member Control (one member, one vote.)
Member Economic Participation (members vote on use of capital and distribution of funds.)
Autonomy & Independence.
Education, Training and Information.
Co-operation among Co-operatives.
Concern for Community.

The concept of cooperatives was also growing in the US. Benjamin Franklin along with a group from Philadelphia’s volunteer fire companies, started the first mutual fire insurance company in 1752. Recognizing the expense and economic hardship of property fires, the men started The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire to share the property risk.

In 1810, the first dairy co-op was formed in Vermont and the first consumer co-op, the Boston's Workingman's Protective Union, was started in 1845. With continue of growth of mills and factories in the late 1800s, and the expansion of corporate monopolies controlling prices, the cooperative movement in the US grew. By 1916, The Cooperative League of the United States of America, was established to promote and support cooperatives.

Andover CO-OP 68 Main St. ACHC Collection #1983.153.188.2ab

It was three men who, in April 1928, founded the Andover CO-OP. Russel Dimery, George Kimball, and Arthur McLean, with advice from the Eastern Wholesale Cooperative and support of Reverend Cornelius Heijn of the North Andover Unitarian Church, began a grocery buyers club. They started with 25 members and soon were able to rent a shop on North Main Street in Andover.

A year later, weekly sales were $185 and membership had doubled. Legally, the club was able to become a cooperative organization.

The Andover CO-OP maintained cooperative organization practices. Each member had one vote regardless of the number of shares owned. The cost of one share was $5. At annual meetings, members determined policies and elected the Board of Directors. All customers, not just members were welcome to shop in the store.

Members were paid a dividend of 5% based on the number of their shares. Each year, a refund was given to each member, if there was a surplus after the tax payments, allocation to the reserve fund and other bills were paid. The refund given to members was calculated according to the amount of their annual purchases.

Growth continued. Monthly newsletters kept members updated on sales, membership, and plans.

In addition, there were free advertising giveaways.

In 1941, the CO-OP moved to Barnard St. and two years later, moved to 68 Main St. in the Barnard Block. Through the years, the building was expanded (1954), land was acquired next door for a parking lot (1959) and in 1960, expanded again.

However, by 1975, the Andover CO-OP saw competition from other grocery businesses, rising costs, and a declining interest in the co-operative. In 1975, Joe, John, and Carlos Barcelos, Lawrence grocery owners, purchased the CO-OP. The building became Barcelos Market which served Andover until 1990.

What's It Wednesdays - Andover CO-OP

Time to go grocery shopping

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