Cigar Box Commemorates History
Twenty-Five years ago, when the McPherson Chamber celebrated its 75th anniversary, a 5/1996 newspaper article by Charla Gatz said, “The McPherson Chamber of Commerce has a long tradition of service in improving the city.” Further on it states, “The Chamber actually can trace its lineage back to May 5, 1897 when its forerunner, the McPherson Commercial Club, was formed.” ….
…“The legacy of the Commercial Club was one of openness to surrounding communities, to successful ventures and opportunity, and a sense of stewardship for the care of the community….” a legacy the McPherson Chamber of Commerce continues to uphold today.
…“The Commercial Club was so popular that a cigar manufacturer in the city named his product the Commercial Cigar. A photograph of several club members in fact was found inside the lid of a Commerce Cigar Box manufactured in McPherson by the Davis Cigar Co.”
This picture was published in the New Century Edition of the McPherson Republican on January of 1901. Front Row: Warren Knaus, George H. Davis, Joh Baird, Thomas C. Sawyer, J.F. Laderer and H. Parker. Back Row: John R. Wright, Charles Wheeler, J.G. Maxwell, W.J. Krehbiel, George L. McCourt and I.A. Zug.