The Fifties
Election fever! The first all-out internal election campaign was conducted with vociferous campaigning. The Jaycees re-entered the on-going battle to stamp out prostitution in our city and plunged into the fight against communist front-organizations.
During the fifties, a major focal point of the Jaycees was the “Heart of Illinois Fair.” They booked shows and exhibits, ran booths, and supplied the hundreds of man-hours needed for the fair’s many jobs and activities. During 1952-53, Jaycees improved Exposition Gardens with new roads, drainage ditches, sewers, gates, and added a new roof on to the grandstand.
In 1952, leading the fight to bring the Council-Manager form of government to Peoria, the Jaycees gave this new form of government the first public endorsement. The Jaycees conducted research and brought full information to area citizens. They helped form the PCM political party with a slate of candidates. Then on Election Day, the Jaycees provided rides to the polls and helped police voting areas to prevent ballot box stuffing. Despite the hazardous road conditions (the streets were caked with ice), voters came out in force. Nearly 50 percent of them arrived in Jaycee cars to vote for the new form of government. The chapter was rewarded a Freedoms Foundation award for its election year activities.
The biggest State Convention to date was held in Peoria in 1953. More than 700 attended the convention banquet. Peoria was host for the state convention again in 1957.
In 1954, the chapter organized efforts to give wide publicity to the Hoover report, aimed at reform in federal government programs. Under Gordon Peters’ direction, the Jaycees set up a speakers’ bureau and researched the misuses of federal influence and duplication of projects. Citizens were presented with this information throughout the city
As a sidelight, during the 1954-55 year, five Jaycee keglers won second place among 83 teams in the Illinois State Bowling Tournament.
The years 1955-57 was a time for “rail-roading” by the Jaycees. The chapter entered into a public controversy over the sale of the T.P. & W. Railroad, bringing the M. & St. L. Board Chairman to a Jaycees board meeting to give his testimony. The chapter subsequently supported the bid of the Santa Fe & Penn. RR to buy the local road. This sale finally consummated after a lengthy court entanglement. Action was also taken to place the “Old 886″ in Glen Oak Park to serve as a monument to railroading and as a popular visitors’ attraction.
Two thousand people attended the first “Jaycees Christmas Tree Burning” held at the Bradley Park Pavilion in 1956 where 1500 trees, stacked 25 feet high, 30 feet wide were ablaze.
The Giessenbier Award, awarded to the number one chapter in the State was earned by the chapter during 1956-57 and again in 1958-59. “Did somebody say pancakes?” On September 26-27, 1958, 80,000 flapjacks were eaten during a Jaycees event. The 300 block of Fulton was roped off and the Jaycees worked from 4:30a.m. till well after 9:00p.m. for this two-day event. They used one ton of flour, 100 cases of syrup, 1,400 pounds of sausages. They charged $1 for adults, and 50 cents for children.
Illustrated here is an actual ticket to the Peoria Jaycees Pancake Spectacular, held in September of 1958.
First aid classes for Jaycees members were conducted, and aid in rehabilitation was offered to Hungarian refugees who settled in Peoria.
During 1959-1960 the Oberammergau Passion Play was sponsored for the enjoyment of area audiences.
The State President’s trophy was awarded to the chapter for its numerous city beautification campaigns during 1958-59. These included sponsoring a automobile litter bag distribution campaign and the purchase of trash receptacles, which were painted and placed in nearly 100 locations to serve both as advertising and convenient trash locations.
