For 75+ years, students have made Watermargin a home

By Joe Wilensky, Cornellians

When you enter the Watermargin Co-op, you’ll find evidence of three-quarters of a century of cohabitation by people from different backgrounds and traditions. Located at 103 McGraw Place at the edge of West Campus, the house carries the imprint of generations of past residents—from artwork and murals to vintage group photos, eclectic décor, and an ever-evolving collection of books.

A plaque in the entryway reads “All men are brothers / All people are family.” It’s accompanied by the Chinese character for “water,” which also appears above the front entrance of the five-story house, founded in fall 1948 and currently home to 23 residents.

“The house’s focus on intergroup living keeps it unique and continues to draw interest from students,” says Lou Hom ’93, a former resident who has remained involved with the co-op and serves on its board of directors. “There are various program houses that tend to focus on individual cultures, but Watermargin was always meant to be an intersectional space.”

The co-op is preparing to mark its 75th anniversary later this spring, with a reunion planned for May 4, 2024 (details are pending). Given that milestone, alumni and current members are looking back at its history and how the house continues to promote its ideals.

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Cover photo image courtesy of Rare and Manuscript Collections