Three Arrows Cooperative Society
Encyclopedia
Three Arrows Cooperative Society is a cooperative
summer colony
located in Putnam Valley, NY
. It was founded in 1936 by members of the Young People's Socialist League
, from whence its name and emblem derive. The Society owns 125 acres of land which comprise 75 individual home sites as well as several communal buildings and access to Barger Pond. The colony, sometimes known as Camp Three Arrows, was imbued with socialist and communitarian values and offers a wide range of cultural, educational and leisure activities.
Notable Three Arrows members include author Bruno Fischer, labor leader Israel Kugler
, political activist Samuel H. Friedman
and poet Peretz Kaminsky. The Socialist Party of America
held its annual conventions at Three Arrows and the Three Arrows Social Hall is named for its perennial presidential candidate Norman Thomas
, a regular visitor. Historically many Three Arrows members were active in progressive political organizations including the Arbeiter Ring, the Jewish Labor Committee
and the League for Industrial Democracy
as well as many aspects of the Labor Movement. The Student League for Industrial Democracy
, later known as Students For A Democratic Society
or SDS, held meetings at Three Arrows during the 1950's and early 60's.
Three Arrows is member-run, with no paid staff other than an onsite caretaker and some teenage lifeguards during the summer months. There is an elaborate system of committees, with each member expected to serve on one or more committees and perform the work required to maintain the cooperative. As in other cooperatives, members own shares in the society rather than holding title to their individual sites.
Three Arrows remains a vibrant summer community whose membership includes descendants of the founders as well as others drawn to the natural beauty of the location and active community life.
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
summer colony
Summer colony
The term summer colony is often used, particularly in the United States and Canada, to describe well-known resorts and upper-class enclaves, typically located near the ocean or mountains of New England or the Great Lakes...
located in Putnam Valley, NY
Putnam Valley, New York
Putnam Valley is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 10,686 at the 2000 census. Its location is northeast of New York City.The Town of Putnam Valley is in the southwest part of Putnam County...
. It was founded in 1936 by members of the Young People's Socialist League
Young People's Socialist League (1907)
The Young People's Socialist League , founded in 1907, was the official youth arm of the Socialist Party of America. Its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic socialists and affecting the issues impacting that demographic group.- Foundation and...
, from whence its name and emblem derive. The Society owns 125 acres of land which comprise 75 individual home sites as well as several communal buildings and access to Barger Pond. The colony, sometimes known as Camp Three Arrows, was imbued with socialist and communitarian values and offers a wide range of cultural, educational and leisure activities.
Notable Three Arrows members include author Bruno Fischer, labor leader Israel Kugler
Israel Kugler
Israel Kugler was a noted American professor of sociology. In the 1960s, he helped organize faculty at a number of New York City-area colleges and universities into labor unions...
, political activist Samuel H. Friedman
Samuel H. Friedman
Samuel H. Friedman was a journalist and a longtime labor union activist. He twice ran unsuccessfully for Vice President of the United States on the Socialist Party of America ticket. In the 1952, the Socialist National Party Congress nominated Friedman to run along side its presidential candidate,...
and poet Peretz Kaminsky. The Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
held its annual conventions at Three Arrows and the Three Arrows Social Hall is named for its perennial presidential candidate Norman Thomas
Norman Thomas
Norman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
, a regular visitor. Historically many Three Arrows members were active in progressive political organizations including the Arbeiter Ring, the Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Labor Committee
The Jewish Labor Committee is an American secular Jewish organization dedicated to promoting labor union interests in Jewish communities, and Jewish interests within unions. The organization is headquartered in New York City, with local/regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago...
and the League for Industrial Democracy
League for Industrial Democracy
The League for Industrial Democracy , from 1960-1965 known as the Students for a Democratic Society , was founded in 1905 by a group of notable socialists including Harry W. Laidler, Jack London, Norman Thomas, Upton Sinclair, and J.G. Phelps Stokes...
as well as many aspects of the Labor Movement. The Student League for Industrial Democracy
Student League for Industrial Democracy
There have been two organization by this name, both were the student affiliates of the adult League for Industrial Democracy.*A group known originally as the Intercollegiate League for Industrial Democracy, existing as an autonomous section of the League for Industrial Democracy during the early...
, later known as Students For A Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
or SDS, held meetings at Three Arrows during the 1950's and early 60's.
Three Arrows is member-run, with no paid staff other than an onsite caretaker and some teenage lifeguards during the summer months. There is an elaborate system of committees, with each member expected to serve on one or more committees and perform the work required to maintain the cooperative. As in other cooperatives, members own shares in the society rather than holding title to their individual sites.
Three Arrows remains a vibrant summer community whose membership includes descendants of the founders as well as others drawn to the natural beauty of the location and active community life.
External links
- Three Arrows Cooperative Society
- Records of Three Arrows Cooperative Society at The Tamiment Library, New York University
- "Three Arrows, a Co-op That Loves Its Committees" New York Times July 20, 2010
- "A NYC Mom Finds a Hudson River Haven" NYMetroParents.com June 6, 2007
- The Whistling Wolves performing at Three Arrows, August 2010