The Preeceville Gateway Coop joined the Canora, Sturgis and Buchanan Gateway branches in celebrating a 75-year joint history during Coop Week October 11 to 17.
The Preeceville Coop branch hosted a barbecue lunch that sponsored the Preeceville senior boys volleyball team on October 14 and hosted a coffee and doughnut day on October 16. The Preeceville branch of the Crossroads Credit Union hosted a chili lunch on October 15 to accompany the Coop Week.
The Preeceville branch was formed on November 16, 1914 and amalgamated with Canora, Sturgis, Pelly and Buchanan Coops to form the Gateway Cooperative in 1966. The Preeceville Cooperative Association Ltd. was started in Preeceville in 1938. The first officers were: William Paterson, president; Frank Carlson, secretary; and directors J.N Sandager, Abe Kazekevich, John Thorson, Myron Feeley, Ben Grandahl and William Tonn. Manager Norman Homstol worked on commission basis.
The purpose for organizing was to secure tractor fuel at a lower cost. All fuel at that time was handled in barrels. Olaf Johnson was hired to haul the fuel from refineries, hauling 24 barrels in each load. Farmers would pick up their own fuel from the bulk warehouse in Preeceville. The first bulk warehouse was built on Second Avenue next to Dalton’s Electric shop. In 1945, it was moved to a site on the C.N.R. right-of-way. Four 3,000gallon tanks and two 5,000gallon tanks were purchased and a two-ton truck was bought, giving complete delivery service to farms. In 1945 fuel storage tanks were beginning to replace drums or barrels. The fuel truck was equipped with small motors and pumps to fill from storage tanks.
Standard gas for tractors was sold at 25.1 cents per gallon; distillate, 22.1 cents; diesel 18.6 cents; red, 39.6 cents, and bronze, 37.6 cents.
During the years, managers were: Norman Homstol, Julius Sandager, Frank Carlson, Steve P. Gulka, Harvey Hanson, Frank Forsberg, Joe Myden, Tony Diakow and Bernard Haskewich.
From a 1964 audit and financial report it was recorded that the Preeceville Coop had 576 members with total in sales of $2,723,749 and savings of $226,116.
