If you are familiar with Cobourg’s history, you’ll know that Cooey had a factory in Cobourg at what was then called Factory Creek on the corner of King West and Tremaine. A park is now being established there and is called Cooey park. The factory manufactured rifles which were known for their safety and quality but the business was sold to Winchester in 1961 and manufacturing moved out of Cobourg in 1979. But Cooeys have not been forgotten and the Cobourg Trap and Skeet Club in conjunction with the Northumberland Pistol and Revolver Club are holding a Collectors Day on July 7th at their location on Highway 2 at Theatre Road. It will feature vendors, a BBQ and displays of the History of the Cooey in Cobourg.
According to the organizers, collectors and enthusiasts from all over Canada are expected – including folks from British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick. All surviving Cooey family members will be in attendance. Some who grew up in Cobourg and others that went off to serve for Canada and have returned to Cobourg. This will be a very unique event and the first of its kind celebrating the Cooey. There will be a history board and a display of never seen before photographs taken in May of 1944 during the height of Cooey’s expansion within Cobourg. A company that progressed from its inception in 1919 to the time it left Cobourg in 1979. This will be a great opportunity for everyone to learn about a piece of Cobourg’s history and industrial past. At right is a photo taken at the Cobourg Cooey factory.
The event on July 7 will run from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and will be open to families and all members of the public – it will feature:
- An opportunity to meet other Cooey collectors
- Buy, Sell or Trade your favourite Cooey
- Learn about Cooey history and never before seen photographs
- Official Cooey Merchandise for Sale
- BBQ and Refreshments for whole family
There will be no entry fee but organizers ask that attendees bring a non-perishable food item that will be donated to support the Cobourg Food bank. There will also be a 50/50 draw for a Cooey with all proceeds going to the Northumberland Hills Hospital.
Note that any individual bringing firearms to the site must have a valid PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) on their person and register with the range. All firearms must be secured with cable and/or trigger locks. No live ammunition.
Cobourg is proud of its heritage but it’s not just represented by buildings and museums but also by events such as this.
Links
- Poster for Collectors Day
- Cobourg Industries – on Cobourg History Site – includes description of Cooey plant
- Cooey: The History of Canada’s Gunmaker
- Calendar of Cobourg Events
- Cobourg Historical Society
- Sifton-Cook Heritage Centre
- Marie Dressler
Print Article:
I owned a Cooey, single shot 22 rifle for a number of years. I was told that it was an ‘Air Force training rifle’ when I bought it back in the ‘sixties’ at the Hercules Army Surplus store in Toronto. It hung for many years above the fire place at our cottage north of Kirkland Lake. I think I only shot it, for target practise, a few times. I gave it to my nephew, who has his ‘FAC’ and I think it sits in his gun cabinet with some of his other rifles, all in Swastika. I will get my brother in law to take a couple of pictures of it and also the serial number that is on the underside of the ‘butt stock’. I hope someone at the gun club can tell me when it was manufactured and where? This should be an interesting event!
Perhaps the Mayor should make a public statement as to what is being done to this land and providing a complete financial statement on the project.
We were wondering why there was so much action there lately, cutting down trees etc. I had not read anything about the Town purchasing the building.
Love the idea of a celebration of Cobourg’s industrial history.
Just a complementary note.
During most of the 19th century the site was the location of the Woollen Mills, Cobourg’s largest industrial employer.
http://images.ourontario.ca/Cobourg/18955/image/44576?n=6
Proud to live in Cobourg!
Further details of the Cooey story are available here:
Are they currently building a park there? Was wondering what happened to that.
The Cobourg Ecology Garden has proposed the planting of indigenous nut trees throughout the park.
Great idea. That’ll make the squirrels and chipmunks happy!
Maybe they’ll abandon my neighbourhood entirely and all migrate over there. Suits me and my garden.
rusty , do you have a govt sponsored refugee program for them?.