McLean County, Illinois - Chapter 28: The Association of Commerce, 1924

The period of the great fire saw a transformation in the history of Bloomington in one regard. It created a spirit of co-operation among the people of the city which had never before been in existence, or at least had never found expression. One of the means of this expression which came into being was the organization first formed under the name of the Business Men's Association, and now known as the Association of Commerce. This association has had a continuous and active existence from the year of the great fire. When the city lay prostrate in ashes after the conflagration had swept out its heart, the business men saw that if it was ever to rise from the ashes in better shape than before, it would be only by the united efforts of all classes of citizens. In that feeling was born the Business Men's Association.

On the evening of Nov. 22, 1900, a mass meeting was held in old Washingtonian Hall, in the upper story of the building then known as the Leader Building. There were present 200 of the leading business men of the city, and after some preliminary discussion it was decided to form a permanent organization for mutual advantage. Eighty-nine men signed the roll as charter members of the new association, and the following were the first officers elected by the association: President, Benjamin F. Harber; first vice-president, C. P. Soper; second vice-president, C. W. Klemm; treasurer, John J. Cowden ; directors, S. R. White, A. B. Hoblit, Robert Johnson, Maurice Levy, Frank Oberkoetter, Milton R. Livingston, John

Eddy, H. B. Harwood, Oscar Mandel and Louis FitzHenry. The first office secretary chosen for the association was R. F. Berry, and offices were fitted up in the Eddy Building, where activities were begun which were destined to accomplish much for the good of the city for the coming twenty years.

For the first few years of its existence the Business Men's Association operated in a rather informal way and with but meager funds and resources. It first had rooms in the second story of the Stephen Smith Building at the corner of Jefferson and Center Streets. Shortly afterward its office was moved to a single room in the Unity Building; in fact, its secretary simply had a desk in a lawyer's office. The next move was to a room on the first floor of the Illinois Hotel Building, where the work was carried on for a couple of years. A suite of rooms in the front part of the Griesheim Building were next remodeled to suit the needs of the Association, and here its working force and field of activities was much expanded.

The Griesheim suite having become outgrown, the quarters of the Commercial Club, as its name had become by this time, was taken to the Durley Building, where a series of rooms stretching along the Main Street front of the second story, were occupied. The Farm Bureau, the Traffic Bureau, the credit rating bureau, and other minor activities had been added by this time.

The final move, made in November, 1922, was to the present large and well appointed quarters in the B. S. Greeen Building. Here the Association of Commerce occupies three-fourths of the first floor, and also a large assembly room with kitchen attached on the second floor. The latter are used for meetings of various kinds, often irt cases where groups of people gather at luncheon to discuss any given project. Since this building was occupied, the assembly rooms have been the scenes of many notable public gatherings. The lower floor is divided into compartments for the use of the general secretary, the credit bureau and its employes, the traffic bureau and its managers, and there is also a large committee room for smaller meetings than needed when the assembly room is not required.

The list of the presidents of the Association of Commerce and its predecessors, the Commercial Club and the Business Men's Association, have been the following from the time of its organization in the year 1900:

R. F. Berry was the first employed office secretary, and held the position until his death, four or five years after the association was organized. Then William Schmidt was placed in charge of the office work, devoting what time it needed along with his own business. He was the secretary at the time of the great Chicago & Alton shop expansion campaign in 1910 as described in detail elsewhere. Mr. Schmidt was followed by Jos. Joplin, who had been traffic manager for Harber Bros. Mr. Joplin was an expert on the transportation question, and devoted most of his energies to that phase of the work. He finally went west, giving up his position here. In the year 1913, J. Heber Hudson was selected to the secretaryship, and he continues to this time. He had formerly been a traveling salesman for Seibel Bros., and it transpired that he was qualified in every way for the duties of secretary. Under his direction the Association has witnessed most of its growth and expansion.

Ever since Secretary Hudson assumed the office, he has issued each year a printed report of the Association's activities. Extracts from these reports indicate the many things done or planned. The first report, issued in January, 1915, for the year 1914 tells of the introduction of the semi-annual Style Shows by the Retail Interests committee. It tells of the formation of the Better Farming Association, which was the predecessor of the present McLean County Farm Bureau. A trade extension excursion was run, when 500 business men joined in a day's trip to visit a score of towns within a radius of fifty miles. A public time table of trains at all Bloomington stations was posted at the Corn Belt Bank corner. The sum of $500 was donated toward building the gap in the Shirler hard road. A great public spectacle, called Venetian Night, was given at Miller park in July. The rebuilt Alton shops were dedicated. The offices were moved to the front of the Griesheim Building, and 4,000 people visited the office during the year. The membership for the year was 448, and a total of $12,507.19 was handled in the office.

was hired as the first McLean County farm adviser to work with the Better Farming Association, which now numbered 350 members. The first Middle-West tractor demonstration was put on this year, the show being in fields adjoining Orendorff Springs. It was attended by 50,000 people during the week. In the fall a great corn show was given, and a great McLean County picnic was held at Funk's Grove in celebration of the first settlement of Isaac Funk in this county. The horse breeders' sales were promoted, and an agricultural short course was arranged. The collection and credit rating department was established in charge of Jesse B. Havens. The Corn Palace attracted 24,000 visitors, and cost $4,497 to put on. A great many conventions were entertained during the year. Another trade extension excursion was carried out. A lawn and garden contest with suitable prizes was planned and carried out. A Christmas charity fund of $1,666 was raised. The total amount of money handled during the year was $11,340, and the membership was 506.

A second and greater tractor demonstration was put on in August, 1916, when 75,000 people attended. It was held in fields east and south of the city, and cost the Commercial Club $4,714. The Corn Palace that year encountered terribly bad weather and came out with a deficit of $3,000. This was the year that saw the total motorizing of the fire department of Bloomington, which was encouraged by the Commercial Club, the change costing $21,000. Many conventions were provided for that year, and E. M. Evans as chairman of the committee on city planning, outlined a comprehensive program. The membership that year was 538, and the money handled amounted to $9,292.

The year 1917 was also marked by the opening of war activities on the part of this association as well as in every other organization. The tractor demonstration, the K. of P. encampment and other enterprises of a civic character were abandoned on this account. The retailers organized a co-operative delivery company for more efficient handling of merchandise. Company M was formed for a home guard military organization in the absence of young men in draft bodies. Capt. C. B. Hamilton was in command. The Better Farming association expanded its membership and put on a colt show. The convention committee secured permanent street decorations which might be used for any public occasion. Business was good, there being no commercial failures, and the C. & A. paid out $3,500,000 in Bloomington. A city planning program was organized.

In 1918 the move to the large quarters in the Durley building was made. War activities continued to be the main interest. Capt. Hills as chairman of, the committee secured a fund to erect memorial arches at the court house in honor of the McLean county soldiers who had died in the war. The A. of C. gave much assistance to the Wesleyan in its establishment of the S. A. T. C. and erected barracks for the student soldiers. A great corn show dedicated this building, it being managed jointly by the Farm Bureau of the A. of C. The sum of $5,000 was realized, but soon afterward the Wesleyan abandoned its S. A. T. C. program owing to the close of the war, and the money was divided between the Farm Bureau and the A. of C. This year saw the organization of the McLean County Home Bureau and of the free employment bureau under the auspices of the government, for which the A. of C. contributed liberally for rent, etc. Several celebrations were held in honor of the centennial anniversary of the admission of Illinois to the union. E. M. Evans donated a tract of eighty acres of land northeast of the city for a park, to be known as Centennial park. The A. of C. planned to erect a monument there. One of the organizations promoted this year was the Association of Commerce Glee Club, which was very successful. The A. of C. membership was 646.

One of the achievements of the year 1919 was to settle forever the question of the proposed removal of the Wesleyan University, which had been strongly advocated in the Illinois Conference. The faith of Bloomington was so stoutly exemplified in the Wesleyan that the conference backed up the decision of the trustees that the institution should permanently remain here. The same year witnessed the closing of a deal with the Meadows Manufacturing Company for the removal of its Pontiac plant to Bloomington and to erect new buildings costing $600,000 on a tract of fourteen acres secured by the A. of C. and given to the company as a site. The proposition was financed by the platting and selling lots in the Association of Commerce addition, adjoining the Meadows tract. Two other smaller factories were secured that year. The returning soldiers from the world war were provided with public receptions whenever a contingent of any size arrived. The strip of three miles of concrete road east on Empire street was constructed by co-operation between county and state road agencies. This same year witnessed the construction of the Lafayette Apartments, the largest family residence building ever erected in the city. 0. D. Center became county farm adviser succeeding D. 0. Thompson, called to the State Agricultural association.

In 1920, the traffic department, under charge of E. L. Henninger had expanded into one of the most important of the A. of C. subsidiary agencies. It audited 25,000 freight and express bills, quoted 3,836 rates to customers, and secured refunds of $8,482 overcharges. It issued a weekly bulletin of its activities, and traced 283 carloads or less than carload shipments. The year witnessed the consummation of the Meadows enterprise. The Wesleyan Committee of the Association of Commerce bought properties near the Wesleyan which should be needed in its proposed expansion campaign. There were more than 1,000 members this year, and the total sum of money passing through the office was $129,991.

The outstanding achievement in the 1921 review was the successful completion of the Greater Wesleyan campaign, under the chairmanship of E. M. Evans, which was wound up on June 30 with a total of pledges $692,000 in a campaign which started out to raise $650,000. The report of Secretary Hudson characterized this as "the greatest single project ever undertaken by a group of citizens of McLean County." In furtherance of the program made possible by this accomplishment, there had already been $100,000 of real estate added to Wesleyan holdings near the campus, a dwelling had been acquired north of Kemp hall as further dormitory room for girls, the $170,000 gymnasium was already under construction, and plans made to start the Buck Memorial library in the spring. The A. of C. traffic bureau reported a busy year, having adjusted 1,331 overcharge cases and secured refund of $11,220 overcharges. The bureau had assisted the Ritter Motor Bus Company in starting its service to outside towns, and the company had carried 7,328 passengers between July and December. Further efforts to secure reduced rates on coal shipments to Normal and Bloomington were under way. The credit bureau under W. J. Tuohy had answered 2,719 calls. The road committee was busy with oiling projects and securing right of way for state paved roads. The Association had delivered deeds to $14,457 worth of property in the A. of C. addition, making a total delivered $108,525, with $21,000 yet to be sold or delivered. The Association had helped refinancing the Hamilton-Hayes Stove company, and had co-operated with the American Legion in work for the McBarnes Memorial building. There had been 18 miles of road oiled out of Bloomington, the style shows and Dollar Days of the retail interests were great successes. A tourist bureau had been maintained, and boulevard lights for East Washington street arranged for. The amount of money handled by the A. of C. for the year was $84,775.

One of the outstanding features of Association of Commerce activity in 1922 was using its influence in bringing about a settlement of the shopmen's strike at the Chicago & Alton. A complete suspension of work at the great Alton plant had taken place July 1, the men acting in conjunction with their fellow craftsmen all over the country. After months of inactivity, the A. of C. through its president, L. G. Whitmer, brought the union officials and the company officials together in a series of conferences where the differences were threshed out and a basis of settlement arrived at. It was a matter of good news to all concerned when the 2,000 men went back to work. The A. of C. traffic bureau had another good year, auditing 100,000 freight bills and securing repayment of $8,873 overcharges. The Credit rating bureau answered 4,000 ca^ls for information, being in charge of W. J. Tuohy and E. W. Moeller. A good start was made on the new building program of the Wesleyan, the gymnasium and library being under construction. Of the pledges made in the financial campaign of the previous year, there had been $116,942 collected up to Jan. 1. The A. of C. erected a memorial gateway at the Main street entrance of the campus district.

The year saw the actual work begun in the betterment of the Bloomington and Normal Sanitary district, by the deepening and widening of Sugar Creek so that it could carry all flood waters. It has not since once overflowed. The A. of C. assisted in the celebration and setting of a stone marker at Randolph commemorating the 100th anniversary of the the settlement of Gardner Randolph there. The move into the large new quarters in the B. S. Green building was made on November 1 of this year. The project for the refinancing of the Meadows Manufacturing was set upon its feet. The general financial statement showed $70,132 passed through the hands of the treasurer.

For the year 1923, a budget system was prepared and followed. The membership was 824, and the sum of money passing through the Association was $180,525. At the annual dinner and business meeting held at the end of this year, when over 1,000 people were present, the work of the year was grouped under the headings of various committees, each of which reviewed the activities of 1923. These committees and their chairmen were as follows:

In 1923, because of the general depression in all agricultural lines, the Meadowy Manufacturing Company had encountered financial difficulties. Through the A. of C, settlements were effected with all creditors and a special committee from the A. of C. sold $150,000 worth of bonds, the proceeds to be used as working capital by the Meadows Company. This company is now on a sound financial basis and their product is being shipped throughout a large territory-

The Association of Commerce has been of great assistance in the matter of hard roads development, having secured many important sections of right-of-way in cases where the lands could not be secured by the townships. Approximately $15,000 has been expended by the A. of C. for right-of-way on the hard roads thus far completed. There is also expended $7,500 per year for road oil, and $2,500 per year on roadside advertising. Large sign boards are maintained on all roads leading to Bloomington, some of these signs being placed as far as seventy-five miles from the city. Direction arrows point the way to Bloomington from every direction.

The affairs of the Association are guided by a board of 24 directors who serve two-year terms. Each director is chairman of a standing committee. The board meets the first and third Monday of each month. The Credit Rating bureau, which is considered one of the most efficient in the

United States, is under the direct supervision of the Retail Credit Men's association. Accurate ledger information is furnished the merchants from files kept up to date. A daily reporter is issued by this department which contains copies of all court records, property transfers, business changes, removals and all information which is of value to members and credit men. The Traffic Bureau, under the management of E. L. Henninger, is supervised by the Transportation and Jobbing Interests committees. Twelve people comprise the office staff of the Association of Commerce, and it is the clearing house for all community activities.