[2] Under the banner Greenbelt Cooperator, the paper's first issue was published on November 24, 1937.

In its inaugural issue, publisher Bessemer outlined the paper's mission statement which included a politically neutral stance.

The paper's history was tumultuous in its early years and "changed hands rapidly," exemplified by a staff member's observation that "more often than not, the morning sun shone on the faces of the amateur journalists as they trudged home from 'putting the paper to bed.

'"[5] In January 1938, the paper had completed its trial period and officially elected a new editor, William R. Poole, as well as a board of directors.

"[7] Heather Elizabeth Peterson argues, "The newspaper, from the start, was a quiet propaganda tool for promoting cooperatives," and also that "Communism was an increasing threat, and the United States government had lost interest in cooperative experiments.