Easthampton Chamber Celebrates 50 years, honoring 17 members

By OWEN BOSS

Staff Writer

HOLYOKE - At the celebration of its 50th anniversary Thursday night, the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce took a moment to look back at how far it has come since its inception and honor its 17 founding members.

The Chamber's annual celebration drew a crowd of more than 100 area residents to the Delaney House and featured addresses from a handful of local and state legislators, including state Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield; state Rep. John W. Scibak, D-South Hadley; and Mayor Michael Tautznik.

Before dinner, guests looked over a display spread on a table in the main conference room, featuring photos, newspaper clippings and assorted memorabilia that harked back to the Chamber's founding in 1961.

The theme of the evening, it seemed, was noting the vast changes that have taken place in Easthampton over the last 50 years, the many businesses that have come and gone and those that continue to flourish to this day.

As the evening's first speaker, former Chamber president and longtime board member Chuck Connor, brought those in attendance back to 1960, when local business owners looked to establish a Businessmen's Association, which soon after became the city's first Business and Professional Men's Association.

"Tonight isn't just about kicking off the next 50 years of the Chamber, but to honor our Chamber's charter members for their 50 years of membership, their successes and their continued support of the Greater Easthampton business community," said the organization's executive director, Eric Snyder.

Although Knapik too noted that the business landscape in Western Massachusetts has changed dramatically in the 50 years since the Chamber was formed, he pointed out that it has been the willingness of area business owners to take risks that has helped the city's business community to thrive.

"There are many pioneers here in Easthampton who have been integral to this Chamber but more importantly this community," Knapik said. "Easthampton has positioned itself in a much different way than many communities have, and I think Easthampton is in a place that is very good for its future."

Scibak echoed Knapik's optimism for the future, attributing the Chamber's lasting success to the city's diversity, both in its business offerings and its residents.

"It is the diversity in terms of what the local business community offers and the diversity and the involvement of the people who are sitting right here in this room," Scibak said.

Also speaking Thursday was Mayor Michael Tautznik, who marked the occasion by offering Chamber President Susan Lapointe with a golden key to the city. "Together we will all move forward," Tautznik said. "This is to recognize our outstanding business members on our Chamber's 50th anniversary ... I present this symbolic gold key as a sign of the future and in the hope that it will unlock the door to continued success and prosperity."

The Chamber's 17 charter members, each of which received a commemorative plaque, were the Banas & Fickert Insurance Agency, Big E's Supermarket, Boulanger Plumber & Heating, Cernak Fuel Corp., Daily Hampshire Gazette, DeGrandpre Jewelers, Easthampton Feed, Easthampton Savings Bank, Finck & Perras Insurance Agency, Landry Furniture Company, O'Brien Funeral Home, The October Co., Stevens Urethane, Strong Bus Corp., Western Massachusetts Electric Co., WHMP radio and the Williston Northampton School.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.