A Square Celebration: 150 Years of History June 22-26, 1994, Page 21

Morning at the Grocery Above, Austins grocery store, which opened in 1881, was located on the corner of Cass and Main where Town Square Realty now stands. Garry Austin stands in the doorway. The man in the hat with the basket is Frank Doton, who had a bakers shop on Benton Street. The first store in Woodstock was opened in 1845 by Josiah Dwight and Oscar Beach. Henry Petrie opened another store that same year. First "Chamber of Commerce" formed in 1913 Woodstock has always had an active mercantile association. The Woodstock Business Men's Association was formed in 1913 and was changed to the Woodstock Commercial and Community Club in 1918 with its stated purpose "to promote furtherance of the social, civic, mercantile and industrial advancement of the city of Woodstock and surrounding community." The current Woodstock Chamber of Commerce was established in 1945. Over the years, its many promotional events have included: Salute to Industry, Miss Woodstock Contest, Fall-Fun-Get-Together, Crazy Days, and the Woodstock Showcase.