1934 - 1943 Recovery and 'the Good War': the Detroit Board of Commerce helps make Detroit the 'arsenal of democracy'.

The slow recovery from the Great Depression and the outbreak of World War II set the agenda for the Detroit Board of Commerce in its fourth decade. Perhaps no other period in U.S. history would witness such dramatic and often painful upheavals, but the Board was ready to face the era's challenges.

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As the New Deal programs multiplied and the ranks of organized labor surged under the banner of the Wagner Act, the Board spoke up forcefully for the rights of employers and sounded a note of caution over what it viewed as the federal government's misguided attempts to meddle in the affairs of business. Organized labor's increasingly militant tactics--culminating in the historic sit-down strikes at automobile plants in Flint and other cities--sent shock waves through the business community, prompting the Board to condemn "outside union agitators with a rule-or-ruin slogan" and to step up its support for the American Plan of Employment with its business-friendly, open shop approach. For its part, the Board fought the Depression blues by launching a "Keep Detroit Payrolls Growing" movement in 1936, headed by teams of prominent businessmen dedicated to restoring Detroit's battered economy to its pre-1929 might. In 1939, the Board launched a "Nothing Stops Detroit" campaign that included a series of hundreds of exhibits and displays to prove to the world that Detroit, bloodied but unbeaten, was on the rise again.

Despite the Depression, the Board's annual Great Lakes cruises continued uninterrupted, but took on a more serious tone. In a clear sign of the times, the Board's 1934 cruise was dubbed the "Michigan Recovery Cruise" and the slogan for its 1935 clean-up campaign was: "For Health, Happiness and Prosperity."

In 1938, as Detroit and the nation optimistically sang "Happy Days Are Here Again," the Board celebrated its 35th anniversary with a dinner at the Statler Hotel. The guest of honor was 87-year-old Michael J. Murphy, the Board's first president. Tickets were $3.

As war clouds darkened over Europe, the Board's attention turned to the coming conflict. In 1940, more than a year before U.S. entry into World War II, the Detroiter presciently noted, "The salvation of Democracy rests upon supremacy in mechanized and motorized equipment." By May 1941, seven months before Pearl Harbor, the Board was already involved in a number of defense-related activities including housing, draft deferments, training, aircrafts, plants and machinery, and trucking. In the same year the Board began presenting a weekly series of radio broadcasts to impress Detroiters with the area's importance as a great industrial center and the part it was playing in the national defense program.

As war production cranked up and Detroit's factories hummed with activity, the Board worked with Detroit shippers seeking more effective ways to cooperate with the Office of Defense Transportation and expedite the movement of critical war materials.

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In 1943, the Board's annual cruise was called a "War Production Clinic Cruise," featuring workshops on such war-related topics as contracts and subcontracts, price controls and material allocations, industrial financing, and manpower and training demands.

Detroit Public Schools Superintendant Frank Cody headed the Board's 1935 clean-up campaign. The slogan was: "For Health, Happiness and Prosperity--clean up, Fix Up, Paint up."

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Philip J. Savage (top), vice president of the Detroit Edison Co., and Carl B. Tuttle, director and treasurer of the S.S. Kresge Co., headed the Board's "Keep Detroit's Payrolls Program" campaign in the mid-Depression years.

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'Recovery' Cruise

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Board members received this plaque recognizing Detroit as a healthful city from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1936. Detroit also won the honor in 1931 and 1933. The Board was credited with working with local health authorities to make Detroit a better place to live.

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Strategy Session

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Top business leaders commended the Detroit Board of Commerce in this 1936 Detroiter cover.

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MORE INDUSTRY BETTER PRODUCTS THAN EVER

Thanks to the Board, Detroit won the first-place award for cities of over 500,000 in the 1938 Fire Prevention contest sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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Committees at Work

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The committee system served the Board well for decades. These photos from 1939 and 1940 show the members of the Shippers Transportation (top) and Foreign Trade (bottom) committees.

Tuneful Exhibit

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One of the exhibits during Industrial Progress Week sponsored by the Board in 1939.

The Board celebrated its 35th anniversary in 1938 with a dinner at the Hotel Statler. The guest of honor was 87-year-old Michael E. Murphy, the board's first president. Tickets were $3 each.

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This service directory in a 1938 issue of the Detroiter illustrated the wide reach of the Board's committee system.

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One year after Pearl Harbor, the Detroiter published this public service advertisement supporting war bonds and savings stamps.

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The 40th anniversary cover of the Detroiter dramatized Detroit's role as the "Arsenal of Democracy."

Stand Up for America

With U.S. entry into World War II, national defense was the No. 1 priority. This photo shows some of the 225 Board members who pledged their support to the Board's program of defense-related activities.

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The Board of Control of the Detroit Board of Commerce gathered for a group photo in 1940.

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If you work for a living

you're in business

"WHAT HELPS BUSINESS HELPS YOU"

SUPPORT THE DETROIT BOARD OF COMMERCE

In 1940, Walker & Co., a Detroit outdoor advertising company, developed this billboard for the Board.

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Hot Wheels and Two-Tone Shoes

William W. Slocum of the United Savings Bank won a Plymouth deluxe sedan in a contest to raise funds for the American Red Cross during the Board's 1940 cruise.

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In 1940, the Detroiter published a special issue devoted entirely to Michigan's world trade to mark National Foreign Trade Week. This solicitation letter was signed by John R. Scolaro, editor-manager.

Headquarters Through the Years, 1903-2003

1903-1906 -- During its formative months, the new Detroit Board of Commerce occupied two rooms in the Hammond Building, then Detroit's tallest skyscraper. In November 1903, the Board moved to "spacious and elegantly furnished quarters" in the State Savings Bank Building.

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1906-1913 -- The Board bought the former Dr. William Brodie residence at the northwest corner of Lafayette Avenue and Wayne Street (now Washington Boulevard) and remodeled it into its new headquarters. In 1911, the Board moved to temporary quarters at the Fellowcraft Club in the Palmer Building on Washington Boulevard while its old headquarters was demolished and a new building was constructed on the same site.

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1913-1965 -- The Board moved into its new building at 320 W. Lafayette in October 1913. Total cost was $260,000, including furnishings. In 1925, the Board sold this building to E.D. Stair, publisher of the Detroit Free Press, who added three stories to the structure and extended it west on Lafayette. During the remodeling period, the Board occupied temporary offices in the Free Press Building directly across the street. When the renovation was complete, the Board moved back into the building as a tenant.

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1965-1986 -- After 52 years in the same building (and 59 years at the same site), the Greater Detroit Board of Commerce moved to a new suite of offices in the 150 Michigan Building at Michigan Avenue and Shelby Street in October 1965.

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1986-1997 -- The Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce moved to its new headquarters at 600 W. Lafayette in January 1986. The 87,650-square-foot former WWJ radio and TV studio was donated to the Chamber by The Evening News Association.

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1998-present -- The Detroit Regional Chamber, on Jan. 1, 1998 moved to the One Woodward Building, where it now occupies three full floors. The 19th floor reception area includes a state-of-the-art presentation center, several conference rooms and the Chamber's Research & Information Center. Staff offices are located on the 17th and 18th floors.

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