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Mailing Address: La Crosse Area Business Club PO Box 2241 La Crosse, WI 54602-2241
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History of the La Crosse Area Business Club Below is the history of the La Crosse Area Business Club which was a combined group from the Southside Business Association and the La Crosse Business Men's Club. |
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History of the Southside Business Association In the year 1946 a group of businessmen who had their businesses on the south side of the city of La Crosse had been having their coffee break or noon luncheon together about once a week. They came to the conclusion it would be a good idea to form an organization for these purposes:
At this meeting it was agreed that the following named persons would be the “Board of Directors”. It was agreed that the term of office would be three years. Omro Aiken, Bernard Zahn, LeRoy Bentzen, Ralph Schubert, Leonard Hansen, Harold Sargeant, Irville Maxwell, Carl Betz, Merle Fitzpatrick, John Rief, Carl Bruhnke, Loring Raymond, Bernard Balduzzi.
This meeting was held over dinner at the Coulee Chateau Supper Club located on Mormon Coulee Road. The constitution and by-laws were written and the Corporation formed. It was agreed that each member and each new member would receive a copy of these laws.
As the years went by, a regular schedule of Association meetings and rules were formed. The regular membership term is January 1 through December 31.
Term of office for the Board of Directors and Officers is April 1 through March 31. There is a Board of Directors meeting twice a year. Current business requiring the attention of the Board is answered by a meeting held immediately after the regular meeting.
The regular meeting was held on the second Monday of the month. Place of meeting was at the pleasure of the President-Elect. There were no meetings for the months of July and August and a Christmas party was held in place of the December meeting. Membership was made by application and approval of the Board of Directors. In the early years membership was confined to businesses south of the La Crosse River, however, this restriction was removed as the city grew.
Each year committees were appointed to attend meetings where important projects and problems are solved and report to the membership. For example, they:
Funded and supported many organizations and projects such as: La Crosse Festivals, treats for Santa Claus fly-in, Badger Boys State, YWCA, YMCA, junior baseball teams, Stars of Tomorrow, fish pond at Hillview Home, steam locomotive at Copeland Park, purchased antique fire engine and donated it to the La Crosse Historical Museum, Christmas parties for orphaned children, La Crosse Civic Choir, Crime Stoppers, bicycle safety program, Alzheimer’s family group, DARE and other worthy groups
At each noon meeting a speaker gave a talk of interest to the group.
This information was compiled by Daniel Kobs. History of the La Crosse Business Men’s Club For many years, prior to 1925, the north side of the city of La Crosse was represented among the civic clubs by what was then known as the “North Side Progressive League”. In 1924 the members of the Progressive League had solicited funds from the North Side merchants to the extent of some six thousand dollars which was used for a “White Way” lighting system on Caledonia and Clinton streets. As a result of this effort in the community spirit and as an outgrowth of the Progressive League, a new organization was formed. It was called “The North Side Business Men’s Club” and its purpose as stated in the La Crosse Tribune of March 6, 1925, was “To Promote Good Feeling Among Business and Professional Men of the City, and Especially in the Northern Section”. Several years later, the name was changed to “La Crosse Business Men’s Club”.
Preliminary meetings, for the formation of the new club, were held in J.G. Dubraks’ office on Clinton street. In the fall of 1924, Mr. Henry Wittenberg was named temporary chairman, with J. G. Dubraks, the secretary. However, the first recorded meeting was held on February 11, 1925 at 1:30 p.m. at Mr. Dubrak’s office. Prospective members present at this meeting were: H. J. Wittenberg, cigar store; H. G. Dubraks, insurance; R. J. Home, dry goods; C.H. McInnis, grocer; J.B. Haraldson, shoe store; Warren Smith, hardware; Emil Manke, hardware; John Tietz, grocer; Melvin Lokken, grocer; Dr. H.W. Hunt, dentist; John Mulder, grocer; Harry Spence, principal of the Jefferson School; Lars Instenes, clothing; and O.J. Swennes, attorney.
The first regular meeting of the North Side Business Men’s Club was held at the Hamilton Pythian Building at the corner of Avon and Clinton street on March 5, 1925. It is interesting to note that eight names were placed in nomination for the president of the club.
The La Crosse Tribune of March 6, 1925 also bears the following headline on one side of its front page columns, “Business Men’s Club Given Flying Start At Noonday Luncheon”. The Officers who had been elected at one of the preliminary meetings and who were to assume office at this meeting were: Lars Instenes, president; Henry J. Wittenberg, vice-president; Russel Horner, secretary, and Charles H. McInnis, treasurer.
Of special note: In 1934, Bob Schilling was the first Southside member to join the La Crosse Business Men’s Club, and was recently honored for 60 years in the club.
The La Crosse Business Men’s Club was proud of the projects they accomplished, such as: Land donation for Swanson Field by getting the city to accept it for the school district and traffic signal at Clinton and Rose streets.
First Public Beach on the North Side of La Crosse was land owned by the city. The club cleared the land, filled it with sand and collected donation for construction of the beach house. |
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La Crosse Area Business Club * PO Box 2241 * La Crosse, WI 54602-2241 |
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