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Watertown Chamber of Commerce

Established 1920

Old Watertown Advancement Association

and Watertown Businessmen’s Association were forerunners of today’s Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce Notes

1920

Watertown Gazette, 08 12 1920

The two hundred men and women members of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce who attended the spirited meeting held Monday night at the city hall went home with the realization that this organization is now a living, pulsing reality. It was gratifying to note the interest all present manifested in the proceedings.

The keenness with which the constitution and by-laws were discussed shows that the copies which were mailed in advance to all members were thoroughly studied. It is active interest such as this which makes for a successful organization and without which no chamber can properly function.

A motion to incorporate the Watertown Chamber of Commerce under the laws of the State of Wisconsin was unanimously carried. On the whole the constitution and by-laws were approved at the meeting and this document with the few minor changes suggested will be turned over to a committee of five which was appointed at Monday night’s meeting. This committee is empowered to re-phrase the document so that it will be in shape to be brought before the secretary of state as articles of incorporation of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce.

It was decided, in order to allow sufficient time for the articles of incorporation to be returned from Madison, to hold the next meeting of the members on the first Friday in September, 1920. At this meeting officers shall be elected who shall hold their respective offices until the first annual meeting and election of officers which shall be held the second Friday in January, 1922.

That Mr. Lehrkind and the temporary executive committee have the confidence of all the members of the chamber and that the efforts put forth thus far by Mr. Lehrkind and the committee are appreciated was shown at Monday night’s meeting when a motion to have this committee continue in full authority until the next meeting was put before the house and carried with more feeling than any preceding or succeeding motion. This is as it should be. This committee has worked ceaselessly and tirelessly and deserves this mark of appreciation.

The building housing the offices of the Chamber of Commerce is to be taken over at once by one of Watertown’s industries and as a consequence the offices must be moved.

As a direct result of Monday night’s meeting several additional memberships were received this morning at organization headquarters:

The Brandt-Dent Co. delegated each of its six memberships to the following men: Messer. Gabriel B Levy, G. A. Richards, Alfred J. Price, Hugo Koenig, Herbert Vorr, John Mueller.

The Watertown Table Slide Co. delegated five of their memberships to the following men: Messrs. Wm. C. Schultz, Otto Fischer, Wm. Draeger, Otto Draeger, Arthur Behling.

Wm. F. Brandt & Son Co. delegated six memberships to the following men and women: Mrs. Leona B. Thauer, W. E. Brandt, George Scheele, Albert Frattinger, Edward Kuenzi, Harry Miller.

Watertown Chamber of Commerce Organizes

G. H. Lehrkind Elected President

1920

Watertown Gazette, 09 09 1920

The court room in the city hall last Friday evening was the scene of an enthusiastic meeting of members of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce, at which officers of the organization were elected and bylaws adopted. The meeting was a most enthusiastic one and spoke well for the success of the organization. The fair boosting committee of the chamber, headed by the Watertown band marched to the hall and rendered some fine music before the regular program of the meeting was opened.

Mayor Wertheimer urged the members to cooperate in every way possible to make the “Watertown Day Parade” on Wednesday, September 22, the biggest ever held in Watertown. The meeting was presided over by G. H. Lehrkind. Officers and directors chosen are as follows: President G. H. Lehrkind vice president, W. H. Woodard ; treasurer, Max Tohr, chairman mercantile bureau, W. E. Brandt; chairman industrial bureau. F. E. Woodard; chairman wholesale and manufacturers bureau, W. O. Peterson; chairman agriculture and good roads bureau, S. Molzahn; chairman publicity and conventions, John Clifford , chairman civic bureau, H. Wertheimer; directors at large J. W. Moore, F. H. Kopp, Francis Darcey, W. G. Pritzlaff, E. E. Fischer, E. L. Schempf, C. A. Skinner, Miss Minnie Sproesser.