Peoria Jaycees: 1950's - Page 2
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.
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Illustrated here is an actual ticket to the Peoria Jaycees Pancake
Spectacular, held in September of 1958.
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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.
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