Hancock Co-op turns 100
Hancock Co-op is observing its 100th year in business after opening its doors on Feb. 2, 1912.
HANCOCK, Minn. - One hundred years ago, on Feb. 2, 1912, the Hancock Co-op Creamery accepted its first product. The creamery had 800 cows pledged by area shareholders to provide the cream needed to make butter and buttermilk.
One hundred years later, Hancock Co-op is still open for business but no longer making butter. Instead they are helping area farmers and shareholders in many different aspects. A steady stream of improvements and changes led to the business that it is today.
A meeting of farmers held in June of 1911 led to the creation of the cooperative. In one of the initial meetings, 30 farmers pledged to purchase stock and provide product for the creamery. That group made lists of potential signers and then contacted each to build interest. Before long enough shareholders had been acquired to build the new facility.
Emmet Walpole was elected the first chairman of the organization with J. L. Morton as secretary. An interesting note to the first plans for the creamery was that there was discussion to go one step farther and establish a laundry in connection with the creamery. It was stated that “the men have all the most up-to-date machinery the market affords while the week’s washing continues to be the hardest task the women have to contend with and the laundry feature would be a blessing to them.”
Construction soon began and continued through the winter months. New equipment was purchased and installed. The total cost of the building construction was reported as $2,615 with equipment costing $980. The real estate purchase was $150. It is unknown if the laundry idea ever took hold.
Feb, 2, 1912 was the first day that cream was accepted at the new creamery. Shareholders had pledged to bring in the cream separated from the milk of 800 cows. The cream was taken in on Tuesdays and Fridays. Buttermilk, a by-product of the butter making process, was available to purchase at the creamery and in local stores. However, the surplus buttermilk was sold to Wm. Senholtz and P.H. McCarthy to be used for feed.
In the early years, the co-op dealt mainly in the creamery and egg business. However, by adding the elevator in the early years, they soon included feed and seed products. In 1965, the creamery and egg lines were eliminated.
The elevator was remodeled in 1969 and again in 1974 with a new driveway put in place in 1968. A fertilizer plant was added in 1974 and in 1993 a new chemical storage building was built.
In 1977, Hancock Co-op ventured in another line by purchasing a gas station from Gilbert and Myron Haugen. The initial station, located on 5th Street, was remodeled and included a shop for vehicle repair work and bulk fuel delivery service. In 1997 a new station was constructed on the corner of 6th Street and Pacific Avenue with a larger shop and convenience store. There are many types of shop services and repairs available with bulk fuel still delivered regularly.
Another major improvement to the business was a storage site built in 1979 including several large bins and a leg system, constructed on Pacific Avenue about a block and a half from the elevator. This allows the Co-op to store beans for patrons to be resold later. A seed storage shed was also constructed next to the gas station in 2007.
Other services available at Hancock Co-op today include a full-time agronomist who can advise customers on chemical and fertilizer needs, seed sales, storage and delivery and feed sales and advice through a livestock production specialist.
As a cooperative, there is an annual meeting for patrons to attend, there is a board that makes regular decisions and patron dividends are paid out yearly.
Over the last 100 years Hancock Co-op has seen many changes but one thing has remained the same: their commitment of service to area residents and importance to the community.
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