GCS Timeline

1937 September 1. Consumer Distribution Corp. receives Certificate of Incorporation.

1937 October 5. Temporary Co-op grocery store opened.

1937 November 8. Greenbelt Citizens' Association founded.

1938 All stores in the Greenbelt Shopping center managed by CDC.

1938 November. Sale of Co-op stock began.

1939 March. Sulo Laakso became General Manager.

1940 January 2. Greenbelt Consumer Services sold to the stockholders from the Consumer Distribution Corporation.

1940 February. Walter Volckhausen elected first president.

1940 February. 15. Stockholders receive first dividends.

1940 September. George Hosden became General Manager.

1941 August. Francis Lastner elected second president.

1942 March. Thomas Ricker became General Manager.

1944 November. Thomas Ricker terminated as General Manager by the Board. Sam Ahselman hired in his place.

1945 April 18. GCS launches a stock drive to build a new supermarket.

1946 GCS begins operation of a local bus service in Greenbelt for residents.

1947 GCS converts bus into a traveling store during construction of new supermarket.

1948 Modern supermarket constructed.

1951 August. GCS opens a Co-op Shopping Center in Takoma Park.

1954 December. GCS opens a Shopping Center in Wheaton Triangle.

1955 January. GCS Board creates the GCS Co-op Congress to represent members in all areas.

1956 September. Westminster Co-op merges with GCS.

1957 May. Co-op supermarket opened in Rockville, MD.

1957 September. GCS opened a new supermarket, pharmacy and service station in Piney Branch, MD.

Are co-ops good or bad for the U.S.?
A look at links to Greenbelt.
Bibliography
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