The Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce is marking 50 years of backing local businesses, promoting economic development and connecting residents across the county, from Bolivar to Middleton, Whiteville and Toone. Chamber Director Vickie Walton says the milestone belongs to the generations of business owners, volunteers and community leaders who kept the organization going.
“Fifty years is a huge milestone for the Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce,” Walton told the Hatchie Press, describing it as the work of people “who believed in this county and wanted to see it thrive.”
From Bolivar Area Chamber to a Countywide Voice
The organization started as the Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce, which concentrated on industrial growth, especially the hardwood industry and the Tennessee Forest Festival. As business activity spread beyond Bolivar, the group became the Hardeman County Chamber of Commerce in 1976 so it could represent economic development across the whole county.
Walton credits that staying power to residents willing to show up and pitch in. She said the chamber has had to change along with the businesses it serves, but its core job has not changed: connecting people, supporting businesses and promoting Hardeman County.
What the Hardeman County Chamber Does Today
Today the chamber works as a resource, advocate and networking hub for its members. Its work includes:
Promoting member businesses and helping them reach more customers
Connecting members with each other and with new opportunities
Encouraging residents to shop and support local
Sharing resources with small business owners who often handle many roles at once
Walton pointed to challenges facing business owners right now, including rising operating costs, workforce shortages and a changing marketplace. She said a strong network can help owners through those pressures by giving them visibility and access to shared resources.
Anniversary Open House and a Call for Old Photos
The anniversary celebration included an open house scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, for members, community leaders and friends of the chamber. The chamber has also been going through stacks of historical photographs and posting throwbacks, asking the public to help identify the people and businesses pictured and share the memories behind them.
Walton named several longtime supporters that came to mind as she looked back, including Shackleford Funeral Home, the Bolivar Bulletin, Bolivar Insurance and Real Estate, Quinco, Howell Insurance, McKinnie Insurance (Whites), Bill’s Flowers, Old Hatchie Veterinary Clinic, Merle Norman and A Haven of Flowers. She noted the list is not complete.
Looking Ahead
Over the next five to 10 years, Walton said she wants the chamber to be more active and visible throughout the county, build relationships with new and established businesses, and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs and community leaders. For residents of Middleton and other Hardeman County towns near the Mississippi line, the chamber’s event calendar remains a key source for local happenings, from school festivals to fundraisers.
Asked what she would tell the founders, Walton offered a simple thank-you, saying the work they started half a century ago “is still bringing people together today.”
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
