EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHAMBER 65 Years and Going Strong: Early History of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce From the earliest days of our country, up to the mid-20th century, Charles County had changed little from its agrarian roots. Following World War II, the county began to grow and develop from a predominately farm community to the vital and economically diverse suburban county that it is today. The Charles County Chamber of Commerce was born in response to negative articles published in the 1950s sensational national magazines, Man’s Conquest and Real Adventure. Focusing on a very narrow aspect, those articles described our county as “a dreary, rural region which derived its main income from the raising and sale of tobacco…until slot machine gambling was legalized in 1949”. Because of the gambling influence, the county was further characterized in those articles as “an unsavory place inhabited by people of low mentality, duped into prostration out of greed and the promise of low taxes” and as a “modern day Sodom populated by people hell-bent for moral degradation relying on people’s gambling weakness”. Understandably, the stinging attacks mobilized a group of concerned citizens to counteract such unflattering characterizations of the county and its people. Community and business leaders from La Plata, Waldorf and Indian Head held a series of meetings to develop a strategy to encourage favorable and factual publicity about the county. Ultimately, in early 1956, the Chamber was formed to execute the agreed upon strategy to counteract the false and misleading narrative presented in the articles. The establishment of the Chamber was met with enthusiasm, and initial membership was over 200 local businesses. Incorporated on January 20, 1956, and with a Board of Directors established, the initial Chamber leadership consisted of Reed W. McDonagh of La Plata, President; John McWilliams of Indian Head, Vice-President; Henry Bartsch, Secretary; and Noel P. Dodson, Treasurer, both of Waldorf. All the local newspapers announced the new organization to champion the county with front page stories, and the new Chamber was mentioned in columns in the Washington Post and Evening Star. The positive press was a good start. That was followed by the Chamber playing an important role in bringing the American Forestry Association Annual Meeting to the county later in 1956 where 450 delegates from all over the country met for several days of activities and additional good press. The Chamber leadership, however, saw even more of an opportunity to be a voice in moving the county in a positive direction by supporting needed programs and policies to meet the county’s needs of the future. Over the next decade, the Chamber was instrumental in www.charlescountychamber.org
the establishment of the first county planning commission in 1958, on which two of the Chamber leadership served. By 1961, the Chamber was successful in supporting county officials in the adoption of the first zoning ordinance for the county. By the mid-60s, the Chamber successfully promoted the establishment of the Waldorf Sanitary Commission and participated in the establishment of the first county Economic Development Commission which was supported by the Chamber’s Committee of 100, whose members volunteered their time and committed their financial support to encourage diverse economic development. It is not unreasonable to state that without the establishment and early accomplishments of the Chamber of Commerce, Charles County might now look significantly different. Over the succeeding decades to current day, the Chamber continues to promote diverse economic and business development by supporting vital policies and programs that lead to the success and prosperity of its members and the business community, while uplifting the quality of life of the citizens of Charles County. Contributed by Philip R. W. McDonagh, Jr.
Charles County Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Board of Directors Newspaper: Charles County Leaf; Location: La Plata, Maryland; Date line:Thursday, February 2, 1956 11
