The History of the Chamber
of Commerce in Presque Isle
by Kimberly R. Smith
The newly renamed Central Aroostook Chamber of
Commerce, an organization that supports business in the
Presque Isle Area, has a long history. Nearly one hundred
years ago business people in Presque Isle understood the
need to work together.
The names have changed,
but the need for mutual
support has not. The
following brief history
offers some of the highlights
of this organization that
has grown to nearly 300
members.
A meeting of
business and professional
men from Presque Isle
Village was held on Friday,
December 31, 1915, at
7:30 p.m. at which the
need and benefits of forming a merchants’ association were
discussed. E.I. Waddell read an article from the Merchants
Trade Journal, which gave instructions and rules to be
followed if such an association were to be formed.
A vote was passed to form a Merchants’ Association.
E.I. Waddell was appointed as temporary chairman
and instructed to form a committee of six to draw up a
constitution and by-laws. The committee consisted of
Frank Haskell, Harry B. Holmes, Roy M. Barker, Harry B.
Green, George Ochs, and Howard Smith.
The group was to meet and report back on Friday,
January 7, 1916. However, the weather that evening
68
WINTER 2012
was bad and other “entertainments” were being held that
evening, so the meeting reconvened on January 14.
On January 14, 1916, the constitution and by-laws revised
at the January 7th meeting were read and accepted as
read. The group’s name
was to be the “Merchants’
Association of Presque
Isle.”
A committee of
three was appointed to form
permanent articles for the
association: George Ochs,
Leon Howe and William
Roix. Articles were drawn,
read, and accepted. Fifteen
names were “secured” for
members and the list was to
be kept open until Friday,
January 21. A committee
of three (Howard Smith, Leon Howe, and Harry R. Pipes)
was appointed by President Joy to solicit membership from
merchants and professional men in town.
On January 21, 1916, the constitution and by-laws
were amended (Article 2, Section1) so that there would be
representation on the executive board from each line of
business in town.
In 1921, the association voted on merchants’
hours. Merchants would close at noon on Memorial Day,
open all day and evening on Independence Day, closed on
Thanksgiving Day. Typical business discussed at meetings:
entertainment, co-op ads, street paving, fire hydrants, and