| SPENCER CO-OP SOCIETY The Spencer Co-op was started in 1928 by a group of Finnish farmers with a capital of seven hundred dollars obtained by selling five-dollar shares. The first manager was John Nummivuori. The business was begun as a grocery and dry goods store which was housed in a remodeled dwelling on Railroad Avenue. They also had a sizable egg business, serving many of the area poultry farmer. A feed mill was added and later a large cinderblock hardware store was erected. Fuel and an extensive variety of home, farm and building supplies were offered the customers of the Co-op. In 1953, on the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Co-op, the yearly business amounted to $2,800,000. This was a notable accomplishment for a business with such a modest beginning. Though the first wooden structure still stands, the grocery business has been discontinued. The building has been extensively remodeled and used as living quarters. |