The following article written a few years ago, gives a sense of how the Co-op has evolved and grown over the years to keep in step with our customer-owners:     "History of Pulaski-Chase Cooperative"  By Chirs Jaworski, Pulaski Area Historical Society President         Cooperatives are enterprises that are jointly owned and operated for the benefit of the owners. Generally cooperatives are formed when private business either takes advantage of a group of individuals with artificially high prices or does not provide sufficient services. After World War I many farmers in the United States received low prices for their products and paid high prices for their purchases. This situation resulted in the rapid development of purchasing cooperatives among farmers.     The tri-county agricultural region of Pulaski was no different than the rest of the country and in 1930 two farmer purchasing cooperatives were formed - Chase Local Council (Cooperative) and Pulaski Local Council (Cooperative). These first cooperatives were formed primarily for the purpose of purchasing gasoline. With the increasing popularity of tractors, gasoline became a very important input in a farmer's budget. Local fuel prices were high so area farmers began to discuss the idea of purchasing gasoline in bulk collectively. Tony Brzeczkowski, Alex Miller, Herman Wach, and Herman Chlebowski were instrumental in the early formation of the Chase Local Council (Cooperative). These men went farm to farm and talked about the advantages a cooperative would bring in helping to lower fuel prices. Edward Malcheski, Edward Bartkowiak and Mike Babiarz were the primary spokesmen for the Pulaski Local Council (Cooperative). Sometime in 1930, the first bulk purchase of gasoline was made via railcar to Pulaski. The fuel was sold in 55 gallon drums. Andrew Jaworski was one of the largest purchasers often taking delivery of eight barrels alone. Shortly thereafter, fuel pumps were set up with underground tanks. Joe Brzeczkowski was hired in 1934 as a cashier and manned the three pumps which sold high grade, low grade and kerosene. All purchases were made by cash and gasoline averaged 14 cents per gallon. If the driver did not have the cash to pay for the purchase, his or her keys would be confiscated. On October 29, 1938, the Chase Local Council (Cooperative) and the Pulaski Local Council (Cooperative) were merged into the Pulaski Chase Cooperative. The board of directors was slated at nine members with two being selected from each of the four area townships: Chase, Angelica, Pittsfield, and Maple Grove. The ninth member was elected at large. Meetings were held once a month at Zielinski's Hall. Each member had to pay a due of 50 cents monthly. Annual meetings were held at the Assumption BVM parish picnic grounds. Although petroleum was the main reason for creation of the Pulaski Chase Co-op, other services soon followed. The original articles of incorporation clearly state the organization's intent to secure petroleum, supplies, farm products, machinery or anything else to aid the farmer's needs.       Pulaski Chase Cooperative Original Board 1938 Art Krause - president William Ziebarth Stanley Ryczkowski Hennan Chlebowski Ted Sahczinski Henry Wyszynski Anton Wroblewski Art Plautz Louis Stanke                                                                          Helen Brzeczkowski is at the first gas station which consisted of three pumps.      article continued