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Realizing that the advantages of the Beaver Valley had been left unheralded for many years, a number of the citizens of Rochester, Beaver, West Bridgewater, Freedom, Monaca, Aliquippa and Conway began the agitation for a well organized and well directed Chamber of Commerce, to be known as the Chamber of Commerce of Beaver Valley. In due time the organization began to take proper form and today is one of the strongest organizations in the lower valley.
The purpose for which the Chamber was organized, are purely of a helpful character and in no way to take precedence over nor usurp the rights and powers of existing organizations whose work has been and is now that of community development from the standpoint of civic, industrial and commercial affairs.
The real function of the Chamber is to mobilize the forces of the community for the greater development of those advantages which have not yet been brought to the attention of the prospective home seeker and to the prospective industrialist.
Beginning its activities about May 1st, 1924, it has already made rapid progress along many lines. It serves the individual community on strictly local problems and all communities on matters of general interest. Its program of work has been built along those lines.
The officers and directors of the Chamber are representative individuals of each community and there are seventeen in number, as follows: W. S. Townsend, President, Rochester; A.S. Batchelor, First Vice President, Monaca; J. T. Anderson, Second Vice President, Beaver; Mont D. Youtes, Treasurer, Monaca; E. T. Fellow, Executive Secretary. The remaining Directors are: Mrs. Geo. A. Armstrong, Judge George A. Baldwin, A.D. Brown, J.H. Grandey and David W. Denton of Rochester; Dr. J. J. Allen and Ralph Hartenbaugh of Monaca; Fred H. Cood of Beaver; C. A. Mengel and Herbert W. Mengel of Freedom; Charles A. Waters and Oliver K. MacKeage of West Bridgewater and George L. Reid of Aliquippa.
The Chamber stands as the clearing house for ideas of general good to the communities served and for expression of public opinion on such matters. It also represents the people of these communities in expressing their desires on matters of State and National importance.