The official birthdate of Westacres is listed as 1936, but the vision began well before that. We owe our beautiful way of life to the vision of James Couzens (1872-1936). After experiencing incredible wealth due to his work with a well-known “start-up” at the time (also known as Ford Motor Company), Couzens turned his attention to philanthropy.  

The Couzens’ Creed was this: “I want to do what I can to see that life is not made a burden for the many and a holiday for the few.  To love justice, to hate inequity and hypocrisy, to wrestle wickedness in high places, to remember the fatherless and the widow in their tribulations, to labor as good stewards in the service of humanity–this I take to be our work (p.3 The Story of Us).” 

In the spirit of the Couzens’ creed and the vision that built our community, we hope to lift up the history of Westacres and its continued commitment to Couzens’ creed  each week in the History Corner. Thank you for reading!