101 East Fort Dade Ave

The History

This unassuming little building was the site of big impacts for Hernando County. The Brooksville Chamber of Commerce built this building in 1956 and it housed them until they merged with the Greater West Hernando Chamber of Commerce to become the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce in 2005. Their offices can now be found by the Brooksville Airport.

The earliest mention of the Brooksville Chamber of Commerce in newspapers is 1915 concerning their support of an interurban electric car line from Tampa to Brooksville.   The Chamber reorganized in January 1925 in response to the booming real estate market and the growth it brought.  Their first officers were President Frederick Williamson, Vice-President A.C. McCall, and Secretary Lena Hawkins. Hawkins, a female force to reckon with, was one of the only women in the nation serving as a Chamber Secretary at the time.

The Chamber’s goals were ambitious and record-breaking. In a whirlwind 30 minute fundraising and membership drive, they raised $26,200 to start the organization and fund a marketing campaign to promote Hernando County.  It was the most successful fundraiser to date in national Chamber history.  They also signed up 1000 members.  With a population of only 1750, practically all adults became Chamber members! The Board of County Commissioners committed an additional $25,000 in advertising for the community. 

With the resounding success of their three month marketing campaign, Brooksville suddenly had more people than houses. To address the problem, the Chamber underwrote a $100,000 housing development project, spending $6000 per building to construct new homes. As a home was completed and sold, the proceeds were used to build the next one.

The Chamber undertook many other important and inventive initiatives. They established the first bus service between Tampa and Brooksville and funded wayfinding signage. They created a forty-acre farm to show farmers Brooksville’s wonderful soil. In 1956, they began hosting an annual Musicade with the Brooksville Music Club during which attendees gathered at the Chamber office and then walked to historic homes, each hosting live bands.

CITATIONS/CREDIT: 

“Brooksville,” The Tampa Daily Times, July 19, 1915, pg. 7

“Brooksville After Fund for Publicity,” Tampa Morning Tribune, March 14, 1925, pg. 19

Editorial, Tampa Sunday Tribune, June 28, 1925, pg. 6

“Dr. Harry McKeen Aiding Chambers,” The Pensacola Journal, August 16, 1925, pg.18

A History of Hernando County, 1840-1976, Richard J. Stanaback, pg. 217

“Musicade in Brooksville Set for Dec 28,” The Tampa Tribune, December 17, 1961, pg. 28

“Regular Bus Service Inaugurated Between Here and Brooksville,” Tampa Sunday Tribune, June 7, 1925, pg. 1

 “Brooksville Chamber of Commerce to Build Homes for Residents,” Tampa Sunday Tribune, April 5, 1925, pg. 4H

“Hernando Chambers to Merge Permanently,” The Tampa Bay Times, October 10, 2005