There have been various organizations from time to time in Chester to advance its interests. The Board of Trade was organized October 1, 1900, with Frank Durland, president; W. A. Lawrence, vice-president; Charles W. Kerner, secretary; Hiram Tuthill, treasurer. Directors, Joseph Board, William Osborne, George Vail, G. M. Roe.
The Board of Trade represents the spirit that has effected co-operation in many ways for advancing the interests of the town. Among them are the incorporation of our village and the securing of the water supply from Walton Lake, and the Telford streets. At present the officers are looking forward to the development of the suburban idea on the beautiful site that our village affords, and will welcome desirable manufacturing interests.
From a small beginning in the year 1874, the manufacture of Neufchatel and square cream cheese has grown until at the present time the Lawrence & Son's cheese factory is using over 300 cans or 12,000 quarts of milk daily, employing a daily average of twenty-five men. This factory, consuming such a large amount of milk, together with Borden's large receiving station, with a receiving average of 100 cans daily, proves the high productiveness of the land in this section.
The Sugar Milk factory is located adjoining this cheese plant for the manufacture of milk sugar.
This sugar is made from the whey, a by-product delivered by the cheese factory.
MILITARY.
The military record of Chester is a worthy one. Quite a number of Chester residents made up a company during the Revolutionary War, under Colonel Allison, and were attached to the Goshen regiment.
In the second war with England there was a representation of hardy men of this town to endure the hardships of the war. Some of them survived until the year 1880.
During the general training days that followed the second war with England, Captain John Yelverton, whose sword is still prized as a relic of those days of patriotic zeal, led the men of the town to Durland's Square, where the volunteer militia were inspected.
During the Civil War nearly 200 men represented this town in defending the Union. Many of them suffered upon the battlefield. A few citizens from the young men of the town enlisted in the Spanish American War.