In the early 1900's, the subdivision of the portion of the Novato Rancho known as Black Point Ranch brought many new businesses and families to this area. It became apparent to a number of prominent citizens and businessmen that some type of civic organization was needed if improvements to their town were to be implemented. On August 5, 1915, the Novato Chamber of Commerce was founded to fill that need.
One of the first items of business was a unanimous objection to routing the proposed Black Point Cutoff Road through the marshlands from Ignacio, citing the exorbitant cost of both the building and the upkeep of such a project.
As an alternative, they recommended using the route from Atherton's Corner to Black Point. A committee was appointed to advise the State Highway Commission accordingly.
Some of the items that have appeared on the chamber agenda since that first meeting include:
- Asking the county to put in curbs and sidewalks along Machin Avenue.
- Working on a cooperative venture with the county to pave DeLong Avenue.
- Requesting a master plan for Novato from the County Planning Commission.
- The eradiciation of mosquitoes and earwigs.
- The investigation of the feasibility of Novato's incorporation.
No problem was too difficult nor too insignificant for their consideration when the welfare of the community was involved.
In 1950, the Chamber received what one of the older members termed "a blood transfusion" when a group of new businessmen and merchants joined the organization. Plans were made to build a more forceful, "wide-awake" Chamber to coordinate business and civic activities in the rapidly growing town. The result of that campaign is the vital Chamber of Commerce serving Novato today.
Although Novato now has its own City government to solve many of the problems formerly placed before the members of the Chamber, the membership continues to perform a valuable service for citizens and visitors alike. They ask for no personal reward nor commendation. Their credo may have been expressed quite well in an item in the Novato Advance in 1922 when editor William Hanen wrote:
The man who will not lend his brains, his energy and some of his money to the efforts of his fellow citizens in directing the constructive forces of his community along the course that is best for the community as a whole, is not doing his full duty.
Taken from Novato Township: Land Grant to World War II
by May Rodgers Ungemach, ©1989.
Published by Novato Historical Build, Novato CA.
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