David Bowie Memorial Co-op
711 W. Grand River
(517) 337-3236

Members: 21
Rooms: 21 singles
Meal Plan: Yes /Omnivorous. Meals often include meat and/or dairy products.
Facilities: Parking lot, shed, basketball hoop, outdoor grill, picnic table, recycling.
Common Areas: Large dining area, bike room.  Living Room: carpeted, couches, TV/VCR/DVD, fireplace, computer, awesome snacks/soda/juice vending machine.  Kitchen: newer cabinets, stove, oven, appliances, full freezer, 4 refrigerators.
Amenities: 2 washers / 2 dryers, cable TV, cable internet, 2 phone lines, large yard.
Other perks: Near bus lines to MSU & LCC campuses, near Frandor mall, near coffee shop (Beaner’s) and bar (Crunchy’s).
Blocks from campus: 5

David Bowie Memorial Photo Album

Click here to see original photos

David Bowie Memorial House History

David Bowie Memorial House, formerly known as Elsworth, was the second men's co-op established at Michigan State University. The members wanted to lease a house, as Hedrick had done in 1939, but the owners of available property weren't interested in leasing -- they wanted to sell. The future members of Elsworth Co-op raised $1700 in the summer of 1940, lifted from foreclosure of a house at 218 Albert, and established what may have been the first student housing co-op in the nation to own their own building.

Elsworth expanded to the house next door in 1947, but sold both houses to the City of East Lansing in 1949, which were demolished to build a parking lot. A new house was built at 711 West Grand River, and Elsworth reopened in 1951. Elsworth members played an important role in campus social life, winning intramural trophies and competing in Junior 500 contests. When vacancies and other problems threatened the house, SHC leased it to the Asher Christian Science Co-op, and later to a fraternity. The fraternity was evicted in 1992, and Elsworth has renewed its status as a well-respected co-op.

During the summer of 1996, Elsworth was closed down for some extensive renovations. Elsworthians got a new kitchen with many more cupboards and newly painted common areas.  In 2007, house members chose to re-name the house David Bowie Memorial Co-op.