Founded on January 25, 1935, the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce has been a fixture in the Manhasset community for 80 years.
On Tuesday, the chamber celebrated its 80th anniversary at the historic Onderdonk House in Manhasset.
Katie Miller, first vice president of the chamber, helped organize the event along with Lillian Lindgreen, an executive board member and former chamber president.
“[The celebration] is an opportunity to give our merchants and community leaders a thank you,” Miller said.
They were joined for the occasion by state Sen. Jack Martins, Town of North Hempstead Clerk Wayne and Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan.
The Historic Onderdonk House, Miller said, was decorated in a fall theme to coincide with the time of year the celebration is taking place.
“I’m very excited about [the celebration],” she said. “It is a milestone.”
Miller said her father, Walter Broemmer, was one of the first members of the chamber.
Broemmer, Miller said, was the owner Manhasset Ornamental Iron Works, and a member of the chamber from its inception in 1935.
Eighty years ago, Miller said, the chamber was comprised of 60 members, most of whom also lived in Manhasset.
The original Chamber board in 1935 was made up of seven members.
Arthur J. Deering, a real estate broker was the chamber’s first president, Miller said.
Arthur Wright, John O’Connell, Louis Weniger, Ernest Blaich, William Willets and Bernard Ornstein comprised the rest of the original chamber board.
Miller said that in 1935, the chamber had 60 members.
Today, the chamber has approximately 300 members and the board is made up of 19 members.
C.J. Coleman and Marian Mulderrig are the chamber’s current co-presidents.
Tuesday’s celebration, Miller said, is also an opportunity to allow members of the Manhasset community to become more familiar with the chamber.
“[We want the community to know] this is who we are and [we want to] thank [them] for supporting us,” Miller said.
A Manhasset resident since 1969, Miller has been involved with the chamber for the past six years.
“I’m very proud to be a part of this business organization,” Miller said.
Even though the chamber is celebrating its 80th anniversary, Miller said, the chamber will continue “forging ahead.”
“We are offering more for our members,” she said. “We want it to grow and be better.”
