History of the Upper Adams Jaycees
(WRITTEN BY JOAN BUCHER, 1994)
The first Jaycee Chapter was founded in St. Louis, Missouri on October 13, 1915, by Henry Geissenbier. It was then called the “Young Men’s Progressive Civic Association.” It was later changed to “Junior Citizens.” The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1920 with twenty-nine cities represented at the first convention in St. Louis. The present United States Jaycees headquarters are in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Junior Chamber International was officially organized on December 11, 1944. Although the first Chapter outside the United States had been around nearly 20 years earlier in the city of Winnipeg, Canada.
The Pennsylvania Junior Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1936 with six Chapters. Lancaster is the oldest Chapter in the State, while Wilkes-Barre is the second oldest.
The Upper Adams Junior Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1963 as an extension of the Gettysburg Jaycees and their first President was Doctor Thomas Zeigler. With the help of Attorney Robert Bigham, they were incorporated in September, 1963. The name was then changed to the “Upper Adams Jaycees, Inc.” Eugene Pyles, Robert Reed, Glen Thomas, and Thomas Zeigler signed the legal papers.
The Upper Adams Jaycees is a very unique Chapter. In 1965 began what became the largest Jaycee fundraiser in the country, “The National Apple Harvest Festival,” which now has profits in excess of $100,000. In 1975 the Upper Adams Jaycees purchased 53 acres of cornfields, hay meadows, and wooded land from Arthur and Ruth Ebbert with the profits from the National Apple Harvest Festival. They wanted something to show for all their hard work, plus a survey taken in the Community showed a need for a Community Park!
After waiting for a decision for over ten years, on July 3, 1984, the Supreme Court ruled that the Jaycees must admit women into their Organization. The National Jaycees in an overwhelming vote on August 16, 1984 voted to admit women. Under President Ed Taylor (whose motto was: “Go for it!”) the Upper Adams Jaycees voted to admit women. Jeanette Taylor was the first Pennsylvania Jaycee and the first Upper Adams Jaycee woman to join on August 24, 1984. Four years later, Joan T. Bucher was elected the first woman Upper Adams Jaycees President.
In the past 30 some years, the Upper Adams Jaycees held meetings in various rooms in the Community – the old Arendtsville Firehouse, the back room of the Amphitheater at Oakside Community Park and Arendtsville Vocational School. Musselman’s offered one of their buildings and it was used for a number of years as a Park Office for the Secretary and Director. In August 1988, a building Committee was formed with Representatives from Jaycees, Oakside Community Park, and National Apple Harvest Festival. Robert Junkins was appointed Chairman. The master plan showed a gatehouse at the entrance. Avoiding major diversion from the master plan, designs of a new Park Office, Festival Office, and Chapter House were developed which would put all three Organizations under one roof.
In April 1989, groundbreaking took place for the 30’ x 53’ office complex. Volunteers working evenings and weekends did the work. Over 10,000 donated man-hours went into the construction of the $60,000 building currently assessed at over $125,000. Over 60 Jaycees, friends, and family helped with the project. Open House was on March 25, 1990. The Community was impressed with what the Upper Adams Jaycees had accomplished as they showcased their permanent “home” at the Oakside Community Park Office complex.
With the two large projects of Oakside Community Park and the National Apple Harvest Festival, the Upper Adams Jaycees had little time to be “Jaycees.” Thus, Oakside Community Park and the National Apple Harvest Festival have their own Boards and report back to Jaycees at their bi-monthly meeting.
The Upper Adams Jaycees provide an opportunity for personal growth while building future leaders of our Community. Jaycees provide an avenue to create new projects to meet the needs of the Community. There are three types of development: individual, community, and management.
The first Jaycee Chapter was founded in St. Louis, Missouri on October 13, 1915, by Henry Geissenbier. It was then called the “Young Men’s Progressive Civic Association.” It was later changed to “Junior Citizens.” The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1920 with twenty-nine cities represented at the first convention in St. Louis. The present United States Jaycees headquarters are in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Junior Chamber International was officially organized on December 11, 1944. Although the first Chapter outside the United States had been around nearly 20 years earlier in the city of Winnipeg, Canada.
The Pennsylvania Junior Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1936 with six Chapters. Lancaster is the oldest Chapter in the State, while Wilkes-Barre is the second oldest.
The Upper Adams Junior Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1963 as an extension of the Gettysburg Jaycees and their first President was Doctor Thomas Zeigler. With the help of Attorney Robert Bigham, they were incorporated in September, 1963. The name was then changed to the “Upper Adams Jaycees, Inc.” Eugene Pyles, Robert Reed, Glen Thomas, and Thomas Zeigler signed the legal papers.
The Upper Adams Jaycees is a very unique Chapter. In 1965 began what became the largest Jaycee fundraiser in the country, “The National Apple Harvest Festival,” which now has profits in excess of $100,000. In 1975 the Upper Adams Jaycees purchased 53 acres of cornfields, hay meadows, and wooded land from Arthur and Ruth Ebbert with the profits from the National Apple Harvest Festival. They wanted something to show for all their hard work, plus a survey taken in the Community showed a need for a Community Park!
After waiting for a decision for over ten years, on July 3, 1984, the Supreme Court ruled that the Jaycees must admit women into their Organization. The National Jaycees in an overwhelming vote on August 16, 1984 voted to admit women. Under President Ed Taylor (whose motto was: “Go for it!”) the Upper Adams Jaycees voted to admit women. Jeanette Taylor was the first Pennsylvania Jaycee and the first Upper Adams Jaycee woman to join on August 24, 1984. Four years later, Joan T. Bucher was elected the first woman Upper Adams Jaycees President.
In the past 30 some years, the Upper Adams Jaycees held meetings in various rooms in the Community – the old Arendtsville Firehouse, the back room of the Amphitheater at Oakside Community Park and Arendtsville Vocational School. Musselman’s offered one of their buildings and it was used for a number of years as a Park Office for the Secretary and Director. In August 1988, a building Committee was formed with Representatives from Jaycees, Oakside Community Park, and National Apple Harvest Festival. Robert Junkins was appointed Chairman. The master plan showed a gatehouse at the entrance. Avoiding major diversion from the master plan, designs of a new Park Office, Festival Office, and Chapter House were developed which would put all three Organizations under one roof.
In April 1989, groundbreaking took place for the 30’ x 53’ office complex. Volunteers working evenings and weekends did the work. Over 10,000 donated man-hours went into the construction of the $60,000 building currently assessed at over $125,000. Over 60 Jaycees, friends, and family helped with the project. Open House was on March 25, 1990. The Community was impressed with what the Upper Adams Jaycees had accomplished as they showcased their permanent “home” at the Oakside Community Park Office complex.
With the two large projects of Oakside Community Park and the National Apple Harvest Festival, the Upper Adams Jaycees had little time to be “Jaycees.” Thus, Oakside Community Park and the National Apple Harvest Festival have their own Boards and report back to Jaycees at their bi-monthly meeting.
The Upper Adams Jaycees provide an opportunity for personal growth while building future leaders of our Community. Jaycees provide an avenue to create new projects to meet the needs of the Community. There are three types of development: individual, community, and management.