1932 – A small group of businessmen gathered together to start a Clinton Businessmen’s Association and called it the Clinton Chamber. C. “Dudley” Hoskins, owner of Hoskins Drug Stores.
1934 – Thomas L. Seeber, Peak & Seeber Automobile Dealership, became the second president of the Chamber . Monthly meetings were held in its office in the Clinton Federal Savings and Loan Association building on Depot Street (currently Market Street) and the office rent was $10.00. Carden was paid $25 per month for voluntary time spent on Chamber activities. Issues facing the Chamber:
Recruiting a laundry. Soliciting farms for sale for people to be displaced by Norris Dam. Determining the feasibility of establishing a local hospital (Oak Ridge did not exist)
Developing plans for an airport.
1935 – First Guidebook printed by The Clinton Courier under the leadership of Horace V. Wells.
1947- In preparation for the annual membership drive, a new dues classification was as follows; Class 1 - $10 Individuals; Class 2 - $20 Small Business; Class 3 - $40 Intermediate Business; Class 4 - $60 Large Business. All industries were in Class 4. Annual dues ran from December 1 – November 30. The promotion slogan was “Chamber of Commerce Conscious.” Windshield stickers, brochures and leaflets were printed and made available to all Chamber members. The objectives for the year were widening Hwy. 61 to Oak Ridge, arranging a cleanup week in Clinton, conducting spring and fall festivals, and establishing a legislative lobby in Nashville for the welfare and progress of Clinton.
1953 - On April 25, 1953 the order of business was proposed road signs at the Clinton City Limits.
1956 – Clinton was one of the first communities in the south to see its high school go through the process of desegregation. The Chamber took a strong position in support of the integration issue in the face of demonstrations, acts of vandalism and threats against business owners who were Chamber members.
