2023_Fall_ValpoMagazine

FROM PAST TO PRESENT | VALPO CHAMBER'S ROLE IN BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY
From Past
to Present:
VALPO CHAMBER'S ROLE IN BUILDING A STRONGER COMMUNITY
By Katie Bieber
Nestled in the heart of Valparaiso, the history
of the Chamber of Commerce is a testament to
resilience and community growth. This article
explores the roots, milestones, and ongoing
impact of this pivotal organization.
Valparaiso, “The ideal home city: schools,
churches, recreation. Clean, wholesome,
delightful.” This description of the growing
Northwest Indiana town was posted in the
January 23, 1928, issue of the Valparaiso
Vidette Messenger. It was published alongside
an advertisement encouraging residents
to join the Chamber of Commerce, which
described itself at the time as the “general
agent for the upbuilding of Valparaiso. The
true function of the Chamber of Commerce is
to sell the city, its splendid possibilities, and its
great opportunities to all.”
Over the course of the 111 years the Valpo
Chamber has existed, the local community has
endured world wars, economic depressions,
and two global pandemics. Conversely, it has
also experienced the benefits of globalization,
technological advancements, and medical
breakthroughs. Despite these global ups
and downs, the founding vision of the Valpo
Chamber of Commerce has remained the
same. No matter the decade or world events,
the chamber has remained committed to
serving the needs of the local business
community, while continuing to preserve,
enhance, and promote the unique character of
greater Valparaiso.
Early Roots
Originally organized under the name of the
Valparaiso Commercial Club in 1909, the
group was “made up of the city's business and
professional men who early realized that for
the community to move ahead organization
of some kind was necessary," recounted
John Sievers, the first President of the Valpo
Chamber, in the March 18, 1937, issue of the
Vidette Messenger honoring the chamber’s
25th anniversary. The chamber obtained its
official charter in 1912.
Sievers was a merchant in Valparaiso for more
than 60 years. He goes on to describe what
those early years were like in the chamber,
including how his business, Heineman &
Sievers, The People’s Drug Store donated
wallpaper and paint to the chamber’s first
headquarters location. It is obvious in his
recollection how much pride he and other
chamber members had for their local
community. These foundational years would
set up the success of the chamber for years
to come.
Navigating Historic Milestones
Paving New Roads Forward
One of the most significant milestones
during Sievers’ tenure as chamber president
was establishing a new bus line between
Valparaiso, Hebron, and Kouts. It became so
successful that they eventually sold it to the
company Jahn’s Bus Line in 1921.
For its entire history, Valparaiso has been
a transportation hub for the region. As
Valparaiso continued to grow, there was a
need for a north-south highway bypass. In
1964, the Chamber of Commerce president
George E. Neely and Mayor Don Will made
a petition to state highway commissioners.
In an unprecedented act, the Chamber of
Commerce produced a 30-minute film to
illustrate this need as part of their petition.
This would eventually result in the construction
of the Van Ness Highway, commonly known as
State Road 49.
Receiving National Recognition
In 1975, a committee was created to pursue
accreditation with the United States Chamber
of Commerce. Undergoing this accreditation
is a rigorous, months long, comprehensive
evaluation. “On September 19th, 1975, we
started the accreditation process by the U.S.
Chamber. We spent over a thousand hours
reviewing the chamber, and its role in the
community. We had several subcommittees
and we eventually received accreditation in
November of 1976,” reflected Jack Shaffer,
former Executive Vice President from
1973-1978. According to the U.S. Chamber
of Commerce, accredited chambers are
1909
The Valpo Chamber
was originally
organized under
the name of
the Valparaiso
Commercial Club
John Sievers
served as the
first President
of the Valpo
Chamber
18 FALL 2023 |
1912
The Valpo Chamber
obtained its official
charter
1920
FUN FACT
65 businessmen
signed an
agreement to
operate on daylight
savings at a
Chamber meeting.
1921
The bus line that was established by The Chamber between
Valparaiso, Hebron, and Kouts was sold to the company
Jahn’s Bus Line.
1928
NEWSPAPER
ARCHIVE
An advertisement
encouraging
residents to join
the Chamber of
Commerce published
in the Valparaiso
Vidette Messenger
on Jan. 23.
1937
Valpo Chamber
celebrates its
25th anniversary
1964
Chamber President
George E. Neely
and Mayor Don
Will petitioned
state highway
commissioners to
construct the Van
Ness Highway,
commonly known as
State Road 49