The Sylva Chamber of Commerce was organized Thursday evening at the Lyric Theater, and got off to a splendid start at one of the most enthusiastic meetings ever held in the local community.
Optimism, enthusiasm, and a desire for co-operation in making Sylva one of the leading towns of this end of the state was voiced by every speaker.
The address of the evening was delivered by Dr. George Stuart, well-known preacher and platform orator, Birmingham, Ala. Dr. Stuart, paying Sylva the compliment of leaving guests in his home at Lake Junaluska at dinner to drive over and deliver the delightful and inspiring address on civic righteousness, carrying your part of the load, and cooperation in making the town a better place in which to live.
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Harry E. Buchanan, owner of the theater, who presented Mr. Dan Tompkins as temporary chairman. Mr. H.W. Hoffman was elected temporary secretary, and a number of the leading citizens of the town and environs were called upon to express their opinions of the advisability of immediately organizing the chamber of commerce. Those speaking favorably and enthusiastically for the move were Messrs. D.G. Bryson, John B. Ensley, Harry Buchanan, E. Ford King, E.P. Stillwell and many others. Following the address of Dr. Stuart, the organization was perfected by electing Mr. Dan Tompkins as President; Mr. D.G. Bryson, Vice-President; Mr. H.W. Hoffman, Secretary; and Mr. Blaine Nicholson, Treasurer. The board of directors elected consisted of the above named officers and Mr. John B. Ensley, Mr. P.E. Moody, Mr. Harry E. Buchanan, Mr. Billy Davis, and Mr. E. Ford King.
The single membership for the year was fixed at $10 and a large number of memberships were subscribed and pay on the spot, assuring the chamber sufficient funds to begin its work. A committee composed of E.P. Stillwell, C.C. Buchanan and Hugh E. Monteith was appointed to draft and present the by-laws for the organization.
Following the adjournment, the board of directors met and elected Harry Buchanan as their chairman, and selected their membership teams to canvass for additional memberships, with the goal of $2,000 to be paid in immediately. The teams are: Team No. 1—R.U. Sutton, B.O. Painter, J. Ramsey Buchanan; Team No. 2—A.F. Clouse, E.E. Brown, Dr. A.A. Nichols; Team No. 3—J.D. Cowan, John R. Jones and A.J. Dills.
It is expected that another meeting will e called in the immediate future, at which time it is planned to have members of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, Waynesville, Bryson City, Franklin and Brevard Chambers as guests of the Sylva Chamber, at a banquet to be held in Sylva.
The building of the highways, especially No. 10, the Appalachian Scenic Highway, and the surfacing of the Asheville Atlantic Highway from Sylva to the Georgia line was said by gentlemen speaking at the meeting to have given Sylva a great opportunity for expansion and development, and that by cooperative efforts, to built it into a really big little town.
From the front page of The Smithfield Herald, Tuesday morning, July 14, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073982/1925-07-14/ed-1/seq-1/
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