By gloria stravelli
Staff Writer
Dr. Florence Forgotson, who was the first female attorney to have a practice in Monmouth County, is the senior individual member of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce.
In June 1928, 12 Red Bank businessmen got together to sign articles of incorporation for the Chamber of Commerce of Red Bank.
Seventy five years later, the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce — now 500 members strong — is celebrating three-quarters of a century of business and community involvement.
"The Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce is justifiably proud of 75 years of accomplishment," Lynda Rose, president and chief operating officer of the business group, told attendees at the chamber’s 75th anniversary dinner held Jan. 16 at the Shadowbrook in Shrewsbury.
"As we look confidently toward the future, we thank our members for their participation in guiding and supporting our efforts, and invite you all to join us as we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee Year," she continued.
Along with celebrating its longevity, the business group recognized its rich heritage of longtime members, including third-generation members of the Schwartz family, whose original Schwartz & Sons auto dealership was a founding member of the chamber and is the group’s oldest business member.
Maurice Schwartz opened a truck dealership at the corner of White Street and Maple Avenue in Red Bank in 1919 after returning home from service in World War I. The dealership sold Willys Knights and Overlands, and later added International Harvesters. In the early 1930s, Chrysler automobiles were added. When his sons joined the dealership, Maurice saw that Arnold and Ed worked their way from the bottom up, as did the third generation, Arnold’s sons, Jon and Jim. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Mazda was added, making the dealership Schwartz Chrysler Plymouth Mazda, and three years ago, the dealership moved to a state-of-the-art showroom on Shrewsbury Avenue.
In addition to the Schwartz family, honored for 70-75 years of membership were Dr. Florence Forgotson, Irwin’s Marine, Lawes Coal Co. and Rassas Pontiac.
A member since 1933, Forgotson is the chamber’s senior individual member. The first woman graduate of New York University Law School and the first woman lawyer in Monmouth County, Forgotson was the chamber’s attorney and even served as its first landlady, providing three rooms in her suite of offices to the chamber rent-free.
"In her long, trail-blazing career Florence can be considered a role model for all the young women who have followed her path in the halls of justice," Rose told those at the dinner. After admission to the bar, Forgotson earned a doctorate in law at NYU and focused her practice on corporate and matrimonial law. After a career that spanned more than 70 years, she is now semi-retired.
Irwin’s Marine in Red Bank has roots on the Navesink River that go back 119 years and has been a chamber member for 73 years.
"There have been Irwins on the river for more than 160 years," Rose said, explaining that Capt. Ed Irwin went to sea in 1843 at the age of 10, and his son, Capt. Charles, opened a boatyard in 1884. "Ever since, Irwin’s has been a landmark on the Navesink. Four generations of Irwins have repaired, overhauled, rented, sold and housed tons of boats," she said of Irwin’s Marine, which is currently homeport to more than 150. During World War II Irwin’s built boats for the military. After the war, the third generation of Irwins, Edward and Joseph, came to work in the boatyard and Chandler "Chan" Irwin, Ed’s son and a champion ice boater, still runs the yard.
Another four-generation member, Kislin’s General Store has outfitted area residents since 1908, Rose noted, when immigrant Leon Kislin opened his first store on the north side of Front Street at Wharf Avenue.
"During its almost 100 years, Kislin’s has evolved with the times and continues to stock unique and necessary items area families need, whether for a trip to Alaska, a kayak ride down the Navesink, or a walk on the beach," she said.
Still active in the family business are Leon’s daughter, Doris Pinsley; her daughter, Blair Richter; and Blair’s daughter, Shawn, who, as head buyer, sources items from all over the world for the third and fourth generations of loyal customers Kislin’s continues to cater to.
The history of the 76-year-old Lawes Coal Co., a three-generation chamber member of 70 years, now includes a merger last spring with another venerable area firm, the 106-year-old, four-generation, Fred D. Wikoff Co.
Combined, the two family businesses have been with the chamber for close to 120 years.
"Both firms dealt in coal, fuel oil, grain, seed and fertilizers. Both are family owned and operated, and both have people on staff who have been with them for their entire careers. These firms embody the American entrepreneurial spirit," Rose said. "Family values, honest dealing, dependability and old-fashioned hard work are as much a part of their operation now as they were when Donald Lawes. Sr. and Fred D. Wikoff set up shop so long ago."
Donald Lawes Jr. followed his father into the business and was, in turn followed by his sons, Donald III and William. Wikoff was succeeded by his son, William H., who was succeeded by William H. Jr.; his sons, Steve and David, and their cousin, Fred D. III, are the fourth generation.
The Rassas family has sold Pontiacs in Red Bank for 73 years, for more than 50 years on Broad Street.
"That makes Rassas the oldest single-continuing business on Broad Street," noted Rose, who explained that Alex Rassas opened the first Rassas showroom in 1930 when a Pontiac cost $700 and came with a chrome Chief Pontiac hood ornament.
"One of the first things he did was join the Chamber of Commerce," she noted.
Alex’s brother, Ben, joined the firm in 1941 and moved the dealership from Mechanic to Broad and, Rose said, got a ribbing from merchants about moving out of town. Still on the job at age 93, Ben reminisces about how the dealership weathered the lean years of World War II when no new cars were built, she added. But Rassas toughed it out, and resumed selling sleek Pontiacs to second-generation customers after the war. Ben’s son Aaron, who joined the staff in 1964, now serves third- and fourth-generation customers.
Many well-known area firms were among the members recognized for 50-70 years of membership, including Phillip J. Bowers Co., Boynton & Boynton, Chesapeake Exterminating Co., Ebner Carpet, Greater Media (as the Red Bank Register), Charles B. Hembling & Son, M. Silberstein & Sons, Prown’s, Reussille’s Jewelers, Reussille Mausner Carotenuto Barger & Steele, Sidun Funeral Group, and Worden-Hoidal Funeral Home.
Members recognized for 30-50 years are high-profile names in the Eastern Monmouth area, including American Credit Associates, First Union Bank, The Curchin Group, Meridian Health System, Molly Pitcher Inn, Patock Construction and PNC Bank.
Rose reminded attendees that the chamber’s original focus was on Red Bank and popular projects were ones that involved both the business and residential communities like outdoor art shows, Christmas lightings, dinners, fireworks displays and parades.
In April 1940 the group changed its name to the Red Bank Community Chamber of Commerce, and in 1959, the chamber established the Red Bank Retail Trade Board to help local businesses compete with the new Monmouth Mall in Eatontown.
The subcommittee focused on special promotional campaigns and events like boat shows, sidewalk sale days, holiday promotions and food festivals to attract shoppers to town.
In 1971, the chamber broadened its scope by becoming the Red Bank Area Chamber of Commerce and expanding its focus to business development in the Greater Eastern Monmouth area.
At the same time, the issues the chamber deals with have also become broader, she explained, citing land preservation, waste management, dredging, railroad electrification as areas of concern that affect the citizenry as well as the businesses of the Eastern Monmouth area.
In June 1991, the Chamber again changed its name and assumed a regional role as the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce
"Recognizing our commonalities, we embraced our neighboring business districts and invited the surrounding communities of Eatontown, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls to join us in our efforts to maintain a strong business base and the unsurpassed quality of life that we all enjoy in our thriving, prosperous Eastern Monmouth area," Rose said.
The EMACC has evolved into a full-service resource center, Rose said, offering a wide range of services and opportunities to members, which include skills-building seminars, resource materials, legislative watchdog service, business development, mentoring and networking opportunities, an annual Business Expo showcasing members’ products and services, and the annual "Walk to Washington" train trip in which thousands of statewide legislative representatives and business leaders participate.
Through the EMACC Educational Foundation, formed in 1998, the chamber provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships to nontraditional students who might not qualify for aid through normal channels. In its first four years, the foundation made awards totaling $24,000.
After 30 years in Red Bank’s downtown, the EMACC moved to offices at 170 Broad St. in 1991 and began the Small Business Council breakfast seminars.
Gelorma Persson was elected as the first woman president of the EMACC in 1992 and the chamber established the Spinnaker Awards the same year and gained a Web presence — www.emacc.org — in 1998.
Throughout its history, the chamber has spoken often to issues affecting the local business community from commuter ferry service proposals to parking problems.
The group has thrown its support behind proposals for a Green Acres referendum; dredging the Navesink River; honoring Count Basie; a post office in Tinton Falls; the Governor’s Coastal Commission for shore protection; the merger of Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank with Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune and the Medical Center of Ocean County in Brick to form Meridian Health System; return of the battleship USS New Jersey; and the expansion of Riverview Medical Center.
At the same time, the EMACC has opposed a county incinerator in Tinton Falls; the Medical Leave and Family Leave Acts, and toll increases on the Garden State Parkway.