Boynton Beach Chamber Historical Facts

The Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1921. The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce is a private not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1925 to serve the area's businesses. The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on August 24, 1970.
 
 
1947 - Ann Barrett, a Boynton Beach realtor and owner of Coast Line Realty, helped organize the Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce in 1947. “The year 1947 - a civic-minded group organized a Chamber of Commerce. Yours truly served as voluntary secretary and membership chairman, until sufficient money was raised to employ a part time secretary. During this time, I attended short term summer courses on Chamber of Commerce executive work at Chapel Hill, N.C. University for three consecutive terms and received diploma. The Chamber of Commerce was reorganized several times due to inexperienced leadership and lack of cooperation with some city officials.Finally a business group promoted our present Chamber of Commerce, in gratitude; yours truly donated the 25 ft. lot where a building now stands”�.

1949 - There were only four new members to the Chamber in 1949 including Fiord's Motor Court, John Bowyer, Bowyer's Motel, R. L. Brandewie, Sidney Court, and Virgil Rath, Rath's Apt. It was decided to place a table and chairs on the City Hall lawn and setup a C of C information booth for the convenience of guests traveling U.S. No. 1.

1954 - In 1954 the C of C was inactive and could only boast one paid member. Those present decided to elect a board of directors by permitting all present to vote even though no dues were paid. The nine selected were Paul Mercer, Charles Senior, Paul Harrington, Ronald Fruda, Vince Ray, Claude Bowles, Mrs. Paul Johnson, Miss Kathryn Mitchell and Mrs. John Shuhi. The New Slogan: Patronizing and buying locally. Working together to help Boynton grow and progress. The C of C held a Membership “Round-Up”� complete with a barbecue and hillbilly band on the evening of April 12, 1954.

They adopted the campaign “when everybody boosts, everybody wins.”� New members included Arden Park Apartments, Frank Sincoff, Dr. Charles Akes, Anne Mari Motel, S. Pandolfo, American Legion Bar and Pkg Store, F. Cottrill, Arcade Electric Co. Delray Beach, Allen, Ray, J Harless Realty, Barbara's Dress Shop, Barbara Gowen, Barkley's Grocery, Roy S. Barkley, Barrett, Ann, Coast Line Realty, Bond, Cleaners', Gail Schamback,Preparation of leaflets, booklets, flyers, and advertising and publicizing Boynton Beach's many attractive features to prospective visitors and future residents.

1954 - In 1954, the C of C decided to hold a Summer Fishing Tournament, and to give added interest to the event and not to be outdone by any other community, a beauty contest was held for the Fishing Queen and her court at the opening day square dance at the Inlet Pavilion. Miss Barbara Greene, age 17, was crowned Fishing Queen.
 Ann Barrett, a realtor and owner of Coast Line Realty generously gave a highway building site to the Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Paul Mercer, president of the C of C, generously thanked Barrett and said “It is through people like you, that small towns get ahead.”�

1954 - All phases of the many advantages which are offered by the Boynton community to prospective new residents will be set forth in a brochure type of pamphlet. This will include fishing, the Range Line farming area with its gladioli, its truck, dairy and beef cattle, and fruit farms, many more items will be set forth in the booklet to advertise the city of Boynton Beach for the year 1954-1955.

1955 - In January, 1955, the cornerstone for the new Chamber of Commerce building at 717 North Federal Highway was laid.

1955 - (June 30) Chamber in ”˜Good Health.' Nearly 100 inquiries have resulted from the Chambers advertising of Boynton in northern newspapers, bringing to 137 the total of inquiries received since April 1. This compares with seven inquiries for the same 3-month period a year ago.

In 1956, the Chamber's Annual budget was $4,805 and had membership income of $4,393.Spent $750 on the Summer Fishing Tournament and $500 on an Agricultural Festival. 20 feet of land was donated by Ann Barrett and an additional five by the southeastern Natural Gas Company.

1956 - The April 19, 1956 Boynton Beach News reports over 3,000 people gathered at the Boynton Inlet Docks for a gala day of festivities which included a beauty contest, a water ski show, fishing competition and a brightly decorated boatacade.

Among the guests attending the opening day ceremonies were Congressman Paul Rogers, Rep. Emmett
 Roberts, County Commission Chairman Ben F. Sundy, County Commissioners Roy Michaels, Kenneth Foster, Lake Lytal and Delray Mayor W.J. Snow.The Wurtz Buick people of Delray Beach closed up shop Saturday morning and provided 14 new cars for the motorcade  which took the beauty queens for mobile parades through Boynton, Lake Worth, Lantana and Delray.
 Deputy Sheriff Mott Partin arranged for liaison, with police units in the cities, and the motorcade moved along with all other traffic stopped.

July 1956 - Phenomenal Growth in Business - In the years from 1948 to 1954 total sales rose 178.3% to achieve a total of $4,263,000, while sales per store rose 141.2% for an average of $71,050 per store.

Our City's greatest growth has occurred since 1965.

1968 - Population 20,770 (more than 10,000 residents have moved in during the last decade) A few years back, sport fishing was Boynton's biggest industry. Boynton now has 30 diversified, light industries and all are busy and thriving.

1969 - 5,042 out-of-town letters were answered by the Boynton Beach Chamber during the six months ending April 30. A total of 4,322 persons visited the Chamber office in the same six month period. Nearly 1,400 new city maps were distributed from the office and over 4,000 maps were mailed out of the city.

1970 - Population 17,975 Newest industry is Reeves Instrument Division of Dynamic Corporation. The nearly $30 million plant, when completed, will employ 1,400 people.

1971 - The C of C advertises and publicizes Boynton Beach under the guidance and leadership of its board of Directors. The success of the C of C is due to the untiring efforts and devotion of the Board of Directors.

1973 - Population 28,000 Mrs. Emily Jackson was the first lady to be elected to the City Council of Boynton Beach in 1971. She was re-elected as Vice-Mayor in 1972 and is now serving as the first “Lady Mayor”� during the present year.

1973 - Inaguaral Chamber of Commerce Four Ball Invitational Golf Tournament

1974 - Population 34,000

1976 - The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce is supported by over 300 business and professional people in and around the area. In addition to responding to thousands of inquiries concerning accommodations, real estate and general information, the Chamber staff acts as a clearing house for check alert and better-business type activities. The Chamber sponsors a two-day golf tournament with the proceeds being used for scholarships. One of the newest projectsof the Chamber has been the purchase of a bicentennial Commemorative Liberty Bell. Cast by the White Chapel Bell Foundry, London, England, the same site as the original bell, this limited edition, one fifth scale bell, is made of burnished black bronzed bell metal and is exact in every detail with the same inscription.

1977 - The goal of the Chamber of Commerce is to make the Boynton Beach area an even better place in which to live, work and play. Working together toward this goal are volunteers in the areas of Community Development, Economic Development, Organizational Development and Special Events. Realizing that when business prospers, the whole community benefits, these volunteers give countless hours to their community through the Chamber of Commerce.

1978 - BB C of C answers approx. 8,000 telephone calls per year and approx. 4,000 letters each year plus personal visitors.

The major segments of the economy of the Boynton Beach area are retail and wholesale trade, real estate, finance, tourism, agriculture, professional service and manufacturing. Finance plays an important role in the community with six commercial bank and eight savings and loan association branches.

1979 - Population over 40,000: over 450 business, professional and community minded citizens comprise the membership of the Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber's 1979 Program of Action in the community centers on the new Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (C.A.R.E)

1982 -  population 35,000, 450 members' ”˜voice of business in Boynton Beach develops a dynamic downtown area, total community information center providing printed information on things to see and do in the area,  tourist brochures, city directories, community statistics, and information on area businesses.

1987 - The Chamber's Boynton Beach 17th Annual Christmas Parade has nearly 20,000 spectators and is considered the Best Parade in Florida!

1989 - Population 47,000. Membership is comprised of over 750 progressive civic minded industries, businesses, professionals, and citizens who devote their time, energy and money to improving and expanding Boynton Beach every day of the yearBoynton's First Leadership Class  is honored.

1990 - 32 practicing attorneys, 65 practicing physician and surgeons, 30 banking and financial institutions represented. Publix Supermarkets has selected Boynton Beach for a main distribution center. Motorola Paging Division employs over 1,700 workers at its beautiful site on Congress Avenue. The Quantum Business Park complex includes 562 acres for a master-planned, corporate community in a beautiful, natural setting between I-95 and Congress Avenue.

1992 - Chamber of Commerce Seafood Festival "Try Boynton first".

1993 - 50,000 residents. Chamber helped get Boynton Beach High School built.

1994 - Consumer Business Expo, is held in August of each year

2007 - Population 65, 208

Mission to Serve, Protect and Promote the Membership of the Chamber of Commerce and to maximize their Return on Investment.

(82nd Year of Existence)