Our History

Junior Chamber International began as the Junior Chamber of Commerce on Jan 21st, 1920. It was founded by Henry Giessenbier in St. Louis Missouri, and quickly spread to other states. On July 26, 1939, the Allegan Jaycees were chartered, with Weldon Rumery as our first President.

As of today, we are one of the oldest continually-running chapters in JCI Michigan. Originally, the organization was exclusively for men, until a Supreme Court ruling in 1984 allowed women to join. Prior to 1984, the Jaycees Auxiliary (reserved for wives of Jaycees) and the Jaycettes (opened to any women of Jaycee age) existed. Allegan used to have an Auxiliary chapter.

In the late 1930’s-1940’s, many Jaycee chapters across the country were creating projects to develop airports in their communities, and the Allegan Jaycees were no different. One of our earliest projects was helping develop Padgham Field, the Allegan Airport.

In the 1940’s, the Jaycees collected money to go to March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to funding research for the polio vaccine. This was part of a nationwide Jaycee effort.

In the 1950’s, the Jaycees ran a safety car check at the Allegan County Fairgrounds. In 1957, the chapter restored the Gale Car that is located in the Allegan Historical Society Museum at the Fairgrounds. They drove the car in the Fair Parade, then backed it into its current location in the barn and it has sat there since.

In 1960, the Allegan Jaycees began work on Jaycee Park. The hill at the fairgrounds was being receded to make way for the expanded livestock barns, and the dirt they excavated was trucked down Monroe St to fill in the area that is now Jaycee Park.

Beginning in at least the 1960’s, if not earlier, the Allegan Jaycees have maintained the

American Flags that can be seen around downtown during federal holidays. During the 60’s, there used to be flags that would line the Marshall St bridge. While putting up flags, the members would stand with one foot on the side of a pickup truck box, one foot on the railing of the bridge. We sure are thankful that there are no longer flag holders on the bridge anymore!

The 4th of July fireworks used to be a Jaycee project, before the city took over the task of hosting an independence day celebration. When the Jaycees ran it, the fireworks were shot off at the top of the hill at the fairgrounds.

During the 1970’s, the Allegan Jaycees hosted annual snowmobile races at the grandstands of the fairgrounds.

The Jaycees were a hit in the Fair Parade of the 1960's and 1970's, dressing as women and serving as "Miss Manure and her Court". They were the clean-up crew behind the horses in the parade.

The Allegan Jaycees Auxiliary ran a project providing families welcoming new babies with car seats, prior to legislation requiring it.

In the 1970’s, the Auxiliary also had a rather large project of a Wedding Dress Fashion show, including dresses dating back to the late 1800’s.

In the 1980’s, the Jaycees brought a circus to Jaycee Park, and had annual Fly-In events at Padgham Field.

In 1997, the roof of the Regent Theatre collapsed after a storm. The Allegan Jaycees raffled off a classic car to raise funds for the renovation of the Regent Theatre.

In 1998, the Allegan Jaycees partnered with the ARC of Allegan County to bring the first ARC party, taken from the Push Parties the Jaycees used to run. The Jaycees have continuously partnered with or volunteered at ARC parties since.

1999 saw the beginning of the Allegan Jaycees Haunted House. The first year, the haunted house was held in the vacant building that used to sit at 101 Brady St, next to the iron bridge.

In 2000, Kid’s Kingdom, the playground at Jaycee Park, was built. It is the largest non-profit gift to the city. In total, it cost about $140,000 to build the playground. Half of that was raised by the Jaycees, the other half donated. Many local businesses contributed in some way to the project.

In the late 1990’s-early 2000’s, the Jaycees partnered with the Allegan Community Players, and sold concessions at Cabaret.

The Haunted House continued until 2004, and was in a variety of locations around town- the former Perrigo store on M-89, in the upstairs of the building downtown that used to be home to Subs-n-More (now is home to Zenlightenment), and in the warehouse behind the current United Way.

In 2006, the Allegan County Fair brought the Allegan Jaycees in to sell beer at the fair concerts. The first concert that the Jaycees sold beer at was Nickleback. The Jaycees have been the people behind the beer at every concert since. It is our largest fundraiser, and we greatly appreciate the tips!

Around mid-late 2000’s, the Christmas Adopt-a-Family annual project began. We work with

staff at local elementary schools to find families that may struggle financially, and purchase

gifts, clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, and a full Christmas dinner for each family we adopt.

Around 2010, the Allegan Jaycees took over running the pubs at Blackrock Medieval Festival from another Jaycee chapter that folded. We continued to run the pubs at the renaissance faire through 2018, which was the last year of the faire.

In 2019, we held our 80th Anniversary Party. Almost every president from the 1970’s was in attendance, and many former Auxiliary members. It was a reunion for many, and a way for alumni to share their experiences with the current membership. This project was the recipient of an Outstanding Single Project Entry from JCI USA.

In 2022, the Jaycees in partnership with the City of Allegan and Tantrick Brewing Co. brought the inaugural ALEgan Beer, BBQ, and Blues Fest to Allegan, with 15 breweries, 5 BBQ food trucks, and 2 blues bands.