With the countdown to the birth of Culver City’s Centennial Year at 10 months – next Sept. 20 – CEO Steve Rose is touting the Chamber of Commerce’s role.
The Chamber is organizing the headline publication for the Centennial, a 206-pager with 200 never-seen photos.
The text, of course, will be produced by Culver City’s celebrated historian, Julie Lugo Cerra.
“It will relate the history of Culver City through Dec. 31 of this year,” Mr. Rose said.
The Chamber of Commerce, one of the community’s senior pillars, started 100 years ago, in 1915, “by names that today identify Culver City streets,” Mr. Rose said. “Adolph Steller was one of the founders. Earl Eastham was another. “Mr. Steller was the founder of Stellar Hardware on Main Street. In the 1950s when Mr. Steller sold the business, the spelling of Stellar was changed to S-t-e-l-l-a-r instead of e-r. I don’t know why.”
The Chamber of Commerce was incorporated Aug. 27, 1921.
Mr. Rose has been the face of the Chamber since shortly after he was hired, March 17, 1987, almost 29 years ago.
The most significant dates in Chamber annals, according to Mr. Rose:
- “In the 1920s, the Chamber went on record supporting the first sewer bond in city history.
- “They also took a stand in favor of a sign ordinance in the ‘20s.
- “In the ‘30s, they supported the idea of a small boat harbor that was not built until the late ‘50s or early ‘60s.
- “In those times they also had Tom Sawyer days, celebrating the movie about him.
- “The Chamber took stands on the L.A. Harbor with a letter to President Roosevelt.
- “We organized a Rose Parade float in the ‘30s.
- “We are the ones who started Fiesta La Ballona in 1951.
- “The Chamber started the Sister City Committee.
- “The Chamber,” said Mr. Rose, “also started the Teacher of the Year award.”
