Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 3. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 1083. BAKER COMMERCIAL CLUB. On The evening of January 7, 1903, there was formed in Baker City, state of Oregon, an organization to be known as the Citizens League, and for the purpose as outlined in the articles of association of encouraging and fostering all legitimate enterprises tending toward the development of Baker City and Baker county, the approvement of roads, beautifying public properties, and in general to further in all practical ways, the business and community interests of Baker City and Baker county. The charter members of the association were: William Pollman, J. T. Donnelley, N. C. Haskell, Bela Kadish, P. Basche, F. S. Lack, George Chandler, C. A. Johns, W. J. Patterson, C. M. Sage, F. R. Mellis, C. H. Breck, R. B. Carter, A. Geiser, A. S. Shockley, J. Muller, L. Levinger, Carl Adler, S. L. Baer, Dr. E. B. McDaniel, and W. F. Butcher. At this meeting William Pollman was elected president; S. L. Baer, vice president; N. C. Haskell, secretary; J. T. Donnelley, treasurer. This organization grew in membership from year to year until the year of 1910. On February 2, 1910, the first move toward reorganization and changing the name of the association was made, and at this time it was decided to reorganize under the name of Baker Commercial Club, and endeavor tin every possible way to enlarge the membership as well as broaden the scope of work of the organization. At this time a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for the new organization, and on February 16, 1910, the Citizens League met again and adopted the constitution and by-laws as submitted by the committee. In a general way the constitution provided for the formation of an organization for the purpose of furthering in all practical ways the business and community interests of Baker City and Baker county, the protection of industries already established here and to conservative location of new ones, to guard the enjoyment by the city and county of the best obtainable railroad facilities and rates, to act as a medium for regulating and securing of public celebrations, and outdoor amusements calculated to bring enjoyment to the public, to promote better acquaintance and appreciation among the immediate surrounding people of the community, to make a name of the city and county over the entire country by advertising the beauties and advantages of Baker City and Baker county, and in general way to look after and promote everything of public interest and benefit. The constitution further provided for a board of fifteen to act as managing directors, and at the time the constitution and by-laws were adopted, the following members were elected to the board, five for five years, five for two years, and five for three years: F. P. Bodinson, F. H. Dean, A. S. Shockley, N. C. Haskell, Crant Geddes, F. A. Harmon, J. W. Stuchell, F. W. Eppinger, Charles L. Palmer, E. F. Cranston, C. A. Johns, C. B. Stout, E. E. Dobbins, Robert Wallbrunn and J. A. Smith. The first regular meeting of this board, held on March 20, 1910, the following officers were elected from their number, for the terms of one year each: President, F. P. Bodinson; vice president, F. A. Harmon; secretary, N. C. Haskell; treasurer, Charles L. Palmer. Active steps were at once taken to increase the membership which met with great success. It was then decided by the board that an active manager should be hired, and on May 9, 1910, resolutions were passed providing that a publicity manager should be hired at once to devote his entire time to the club's business. Mr. Ashley was then hired, and immediately took up his duties. Steps were then taken to issue some literature bearing upon the general topics of interest in and around the city, and subsequently several descriptive and illustrated pamphlets were issued under the community publicity plan of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company, which were distributed over the entire country through the agency of the club and the railroad. Great and good results were obtained from the distribution of literature, and many a one in the east has turned toward this section and located here through the medium of the literature issued by the Baker Commercial Club. During the year a great many things of public interest and benefit were handled by the club, with, as a rule, satisfactory results. The membership of the organization steadily increased as people who were at first skeptical, began to realize that an organization of this kind in any community was not only a benefit, but a necessary thing to successfully handle the ever arising questions of public interest and welfare. The progress of the club during the year 1910 was satisfying, not only to those who were instrumental in the organization, but to every public-spirited citizen in the community. In May, 1911, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: F. A. Harmon, president; E. F. Cranston, vice president; C. C. McColloch, secretary; Robert Wallbrunn, treasurer. In June following, H. J. O'Gorman was hired as publicity manager, Mr. Ashley having left. During the ensuing year the active work of the club was greatly increased, as was also the membership. Many matters of vital importance were taken up and successfully handled through the channels of the organization, and the citizens generally were high in their praise of the work done by the club. So great was the general satisfaction with the work of the club during the year 1911, that at the annual election held in May, 1912, all of the officers of the club were unanimously reelected, it being the general opinion that these officers had conducted the work of the club in a manner that proved conclusively they were the right men in the right place. During this year some of the most important things being handled by the club, were the securing of a favorable log rate over the Sumpter Valley Railroad, so as to enable the manufactures of logs to locate at this point, and enter into competition on a more equal basis than they had heretofore been able to operate on with other log manufacturing centers. The Baker County Fair & Speed Association, a stock corporation of this city, who had been conducting the Baker county fair for the past eight years, had, by reason of poor success of the fair, determined to abandon it. The Baker Commercial Club stepped into the breech, leased the grounds and conducted the most successful fair from every point of view that has ever been conducted in Baker county, and from the expressions of every hand there is no doubt but as the years go on greater success will crown their efforts in this project. The matter of adjusting freight rates to a more equitable basis has been pursued by this organization for several years, and in many cases they have brought before the railroad commission and the courts results attained have been very satisfying to the community in general. Activity in the matter of railroad rate adjustments will be continued to the time when Baker will enjoy equitable and non-discriminatory rates as compared with other cities of the northwest, when that time does come, Baker by virtue of her location will unquestionably become a jobbing and manufacturing center of prominence. Active work is now being done by the organization to collect and prepare exhibits of the produce of this county for display at the land shows throughout the country, that the people of other sections might not only hear of what can be grown in Baker county but may see it, and in seeing believe what we who are here know, that Baker county is second to none in the northwest in the variety and quality of its products. The present membership of the Baker Commercial Club is, in round numbers, one hundred and fifty, and is comprised of the leading citizens of the city. The memberships are issued on the basis of one dollar per share, per month, and any member may hold as many shares as he or they may desire. The minimum being one share to each member. Many of the larger corporations and business houses of the city hold all the way from one to ten shares. The club has spacious and well appointed club rooms on the corner of Main and Center streets in the heart of the business district, underneath the Baker Loan & Trust Bank, where the active manager of the club's affairs has his office. F. A. Harmon, president, and E. F. Cranston, vice president, are subscribers to Centennial History of Oregon and represented therin. F. A. Harmon is general manager of the Eastern Oregon Light & Power Company, and E. F. Cranston is a leading real estate dealer. C. C. McColloch is a young attorney and politician, and is now state senator for Baker county, Oregon. Robert Wallbrunn, treasurer, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, August 16, 1870. He is vice president of the Alexander Clothing Company that operate six large wholesale and retail clothing stores in Idaho and Oregon. His home has been in Baker for about fifteen years past. He is married and has one daughter. H. J. O'Gorman, who has been the active manager of the Baker Commercial Club since June, 1911, and who is at present acting in that capacity, was born in the city of St. Paul, state of Minnesota, June 24, 1883. He is married and has one son. In 1908 his first trip was made to the western country. During that year and 1909 he was engaged as a commercial traveler through the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In 1910 he settled in Baker and engaged in the real estate business, In June, 1911, through the personal solicitation of some of the officers of the Commercial Club he took up the work of that organization. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2008 by Dale Givens, odg -at- hiwaay dot net.