March 21, 1889 The Peterborough Board of Trade was formed by 33 men, including John Carnegie, John Bertram, William Cluxton, James Stevenson, John McWilliams, D.W Dumble, Thomas Cahill, and Francis Dobbin, who described the Board of Trade as follows; “that such propositions as came to town for the establishment of industry would be sifted and analyzed. The attitude of the Board is to stand between the irresponsible promoter and a too impulsive Council and see that things worked out right…”
Some of the names survive today on the street signs, as former mayors and councilors, as present councilors (Mr. Dan McWilliams….). In fact, the Examiner reported in 1889, the same year that the Chamber was created, that a certain J.B. McWilliams was arrested for horse-whipping a teacher who had allegedly whipped Mr. McWilliam’s son the day before…..
James Stevenson, also on the list of founding members, was a hardware merchant, the Mayor of Peterborough TEN TIMES, helped to bring GE to Peterborough and, as an MP, pushed for the completion of the Trent Canal.
Other names through the years include:
Robert and Charlotte Nichols, who ran a General Store and who also provided money to build the YMCA and Nichols Hospital.
James Hamilton, an implement dealer who influenced numerous parks including the Riverview Park & Zoo and Crary Park.
James Duffus who had the first FORD Car dealership, and played a major role in the Federal Post Office, Westclox, Ovaltine, Nashua, Quaker and Outboard Marine.
Bill and Chester Fisher (of Fisher Gauge), who helped create the Centennial Fountain, Elim Park, and scholarships and apprentice programs.
Frank O’Connor who borrowed $500 from Louis Yeotes to start a candy store that became Laura Secord… He also helped start St Joseph’s Hospital.
Harry Oakman, a photographer who sold more than 15 million postcards and bought the land for the Peterborough Airport.
John Madden who, as Chamber President in 1953, organized a campaign to control fly-by-night con artists and promote good business practices, coined the phrase: “So long as there exists a difference between what a community is, and what a community should be, there is a need for a Chamber of Commerce.”
Harry, Meyer and Erica Cherney (of Cherney’s Furniture), whose contributions include the Theatre Guild, Arbor Theatre, the Peterborough Symphony, and the Art Gallery, and continue to this day through Erica, a former Business Citizen of the Year.
The first known offices of The Chamber were on the second floor of what was known as The Bradburn Building, at the corner of Simcoe and George Street, over the TD Building in 1922. In 1956 the Chamber opened its offices and the new Motor Vehicle License Bureau on the ground floor of 190 Hunter Street in the Belleghem Building. In 1974 the Chamber moved to the former Keith Brown Car Sales building, across from the Holiday Inn at George and Townsend. And then in 1990, in a legacy project that still delivers dividends today, the Chamber acquired and renovated the former Train Station at George and Dalhousie, with the Chamber moving in the following year.
