By Steve Cornelius

As long as commerce has existed , business owners have worked together to govern the conduct of trade and strengthen their respective businesses in their local community . This year , the Somerset- Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce celebrates their organization ' s 100th year of existence .

In 1925 , a group of about 30 local businesses formed the Somerset Chamber Commerce . Some of those founding Chamber business were Southern Mercantile Company , Citizens National Bank , The Fair Company , Hughs ' Store , Cundiff Brothers Jewelers , Watson ' s All Bargain Store ,

Goldenberg ' s Furniture Store , W . H . Tibbals & Son , First National Bank , T . E . Jasper Hardware , and Queen City Motor Company .

A century ago , one of the big objectives of the local Chamber of Commerce was to encourage the local residents to settle their bills on a monthly basis if they bought products from local merchants on credit . The Chamber also encouraged local residents to buy local and beware of buying products from out-oftown peddlers .

As society changed , so did the function of the local Chamber of Commerce changed as well . In 1938 , the Somerset Chamber of Commerce hosted their

inaugural Christmas Parade . Even in its second year , the local Chamber parade drew crowds of over 8,000 spectators . The annual holiday event still draws huge crowds of spectators . This past year ' s Christmas parade recorded over 8,000 spectators , over 90 entries and nearly 1,700 participants .

With its signature event well established , the Somerset Chamber of Commerce branched out to include the entire county in its title to be known as the Somerset- Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce . But not only did its name change , but over the years the local organization has grown in size and importance to the local

area .

Almost every major event in the Pulaski County area , the Chamber has had some part in its planning or organization . In the 1970 ' s , the Chamber organized John Sherman Cooper Day to honor Pulaski County ' s most famous politician . And speaking of famous politicians , current United States Representative and Dean of the House Harold Rogers served as the local Chamber President in 1968 .

" I ' m proud to be a past president of this great outfit , one of the largest and most effective chambers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky ," Rogers said . " I ' m honored to help