108 years: Havre's Chamber of Commerce

Before there was a Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, more than 108 years ago, there was a business community.

The Chamber, Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg said, was formed because "a bunch of Havre founding fathers felt they needed to organize business."

Former official and community volunteer Toni Hagener writes: "The community of Havre had a chamber of commerce philosophy before the city was ever incorporated in 1893.

"So business minded were the early businessmen that they had two promotional organizations: the Havre Industrial Association and the Havre Business Association. One rep...