History of The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce

1888-1904 – The first regular meeting of the Board of Trade was held May 1888 in the G.A.R. Hall. All who signed the constitution and by-laws were declared charter members. The first standing committees were:

Finance – C E Chamberlain, C E Wolverton, L E Blain

Membership – D P Mason, Chas Monteith, C Meyers

Statistics – HF Merrill, E G Sox, C G Burkhart

Navigation – N H Allen, H Bryant, C E Brownell

Legislation – J K Weatherford, L Flinn, J C Powell, D B Monteith, Virgil Parker

Commerce and Trade – E J Lanning, GF Simpson, W C Tweedale

Meteorology – J G Crawford

The first permanent president was Samuel E. Young, J.L. Cowan and N.H. Allen, first and second vice presidents, Jay Blain, secretary. There were no regular dues and no salaries, so it just slipped along finally merging into the Albany Commercial Club in 1904.

1904 – The Albany Commercial Club holds its first meeting. The club’s early meetings were held at the Alco Building on Broadalbin. Mr. M.H. Ellis became the first president and E.W. Langdon was the first board member.

1910 – The club supervised the taking of the federal census. Movement for the construction of a federal building had begun and the first steps were taken to gain approval for the Oregon Electric Railroad proposal to build from Salem to Albany. The following year saw the beginning of interest in the proposal to secure congressional appropriations for the deepening of the Willamette River channel between Oregon City and Eugene, and the completion of the Oregon Electric Line to Eugene. Albany began to use the well-known trademark, “Hub-City”, Showing Albany as the railroad center of Oregon.

With the automobile gaining in popularity, the group recognized the economic importance of good roads. Albany’s club, working with other cities, began laying plans for the building of a Pacific Highway. World War 1 caused a sharp decline in commercial activities and in 1919 the organization decided to reorganize.

1920 – The commercial Club changes its name to the Albany Chamber of Commerce. Its first president is Abel Lodge Fisher, owner of a funeral parlor and furniture store on 2^nd and Broadalbin. Pioneer members included A.C. Schmidt, Fred Nutting, J.K. Weatherford, F.M French, L.E. Blain, D.F. Mason, C.M. Stewart, Judge Hewitt and F.M Redfield.

1940 – The Chamber established the DSA Awards. The awards banquet recognizes distinguished service from individuals. The 2^nd Annual DSA Banquet was held in 1946, due to World War 2.

1942 – The Chamber lobbies congressional member to get the Northeast Electrodevelopment Lab located in Albany instead of the State of Washington. Thanks to the ingenuity of chamber manager Zeke Curley and chamber business leaders the Bureau of Mines is established and the metals industry takes hold in Albany.

1964 – The chamber changes the scope of its geographic coverage and its name to Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.

1984 – Committees in 1984 included: Albany Retail Merchants, ChamberGram, Christmas Decorations, Convention & Visitors, Executive, Governmental Affairs, Industrial, Law Day, Membership, Operations, Senior Citizens, Sister City, Transportation, and Youth.1986 – The first Leadership Albany program was established under the direction of Gig Lewis, Ransom & Smith and Jeff Andrews, Albany Lebanon Sanitation.

1989 – Difficult economic times hurt Chamber membership, which reaches a low of 414. Within a few years, however, it is built back up to its current level of around 700.

1993 – The Chamber establishes the Annual Spring Golf Tournament.

1995 – The first annual trade show, “Business Showcase” takes place. The name later changed to “Parade of Trade” and is now called “Businesses on Display”.

1997-99 – The Chamber office undergoes a complete remodel, resulting in a dramatic upgrade while leaving the historical charm on the building intact.

1999 – The Chamber Board of Directors establishes the Good Government Council, an affiliate political action committee.

2000 – Due to the overwhelming desire by members for a golf tournament that is for beginners and regular golfers alike, the chamber establishes the One Is Enough Golf Tournament. Participants may only bring one golf club to play with.

2001 – W scholarship program supported by Chamber member donations is established, with monetary awards presented annually to outstanding seniors from South Albany, West Albany, and Santiam Christian high schools.

HB 3633, the chamber’s bill to delay energy deregulation, is signed into Oregon Law.

2002 – The annual Ag Appreciation Breakfast is established to recognize area agricultural producers and their importance to the local community

2004 – The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 100 years as the local business and community advocate. The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce receives three star recognition for the first time from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as an “Accredited Chamber of Commerce”.

Daily Democrat, Wednesday, May 23, 1888

Old Time Albany, by Fred Nutting, Nina Williamson, © 1982, pg 113 (February 26, 1938 in Albany Democrat-Herald)

Old Time Albany, by Fred Nutting, Nina Williamson, © 1982, pg 81 (January 9, 1937 in Albany Democrat-Herald)

Albany Oregon, Chamber of Commerce Membership and Buyers Guide 2004-2005