Vital Volunteers – April 2025

THE FOUNDER of the Jacksonville Boosters Club, Robbie Collins, had a simple adage: “It does not matter who gets credit as long as the work gets done,” and indeed the work of the Boosters Club continues to be impressive. Collins was the main force in what some refer to as “the saving of Jacksonville” when he spearheaded the opposition to a four-lane highway that would have bisected Jacksonville. If this had happened as planned, Jacksonville would have lost a creek and eleven historic homes.

With the initial success behind him, this gave Robbie the incentive to start the Jacksonville Boosters Club on June 11, 1963, with nine other prominent Jacksonville residents. In a handwritten note from Collins, he declared that “There are not dues, no assessments, but hard work will make you a member.” While the club now assesses modest yearly dues, the expectation for demanding work remains. The Jacksonville we enjoy today is the result of the Boosters Club’s initial efforts to obtain National Historic Landmark status for the city… and the rest is history.

Lori Buerk, Boosters President 2014-2015 and Rob Buerk, past Boosters Foundation President, summed up the Boosters work best: “On a recent walk around Jacksonville we commented that it is hard to see a section of Jacksonville which Booster volunteerism has not touched.” The fourth Boosters President, Nancy Maxon, (1973-1974) remembers the Boosters funding and installing the gas lamps around town as well as putting signs on historic buildings. For many years, the club sponsored a historic home tour as the major fundraiser. Barbara Oakes, President from 1981-1982 reminisces, “The Boosters restored the downstairs bar room of the US Hotel which was a good deal because the county then allowed us to meet there without a charge.” The biggest project during her term as president was the restoration of the Old City Hall which even brought Oregon US Senator, Mark Hatfield, to town to participate in the dedication. The Boosters then moved their meetings to the Old City Hall for several years, again at no charge. A further recollection of Barbara’s was the Boosters sponsoring workshops on historic preservation which was fitting for the Boosters mission: “We engage the community by preserving Jacksonville’s history and enhancing its livability.” Barbara remembers, “We would bring in speakers from other historic districts including Seattle and Denver. Both cities had historic districts whereas Jacksonville’s historic district included the core of the entire city, We were compared to Williamsburg, Virginia.”

Steve Casaleggio, the Boosters President from 2010-2013 remembers that the club met at Old City Hall with up to 60 Boosters in attendance. Today, with a membership of over 200 individual and business members, meetings are held on the second floor of New City Hall, and it is not unusual to have 100 people show up for the meeting. Steve further relates, “In those days, our projects were supreme. We were enthusiastic painters, first tackling the Odd Fellows dining room and moving on to the Cemetery’s Sexton’s Tool House, then its restroom building and finally the Interpretive Center. In addition, the downtown benches got regular care and updates. Doc Griffin Park buildings were cleaned and wood stained and there were opportunities for trail and bridge building in Forest Park.”

The most extensive Boosters project to date was the re-creation of Peter Britt Gardens. As Steve remembers this massive project which was done with the partnership of the Jacksonville Garden Club and the City of Jacksonville, he relates, “The County having gifted the City with the property, we faced a neglected jungle with a muddy hillside falling into the tattered Britt house foundations. With Rob Buerk’s leadership, Tony Hess’s grant ideas and City Administrator Jeff Alvis’s constant cooperation, we created today’s gardens with ADA paver pathways, a functioning irrigation system, copious replanting and restoration of the historic picket fence.” Jeff Alvis perhaps sums up what the Boosters do best, saying, “The Boosters have always gone above and beyond to ensure the City of Jacksonville receives the support it needs, making them a true asset to our great community.”

The list of Boosters projects is extensive from large to small. Much of today’s work revolves around cleanup and planting days at the Peter Britt Gardens and the restoration work at the Beekman Arboretum, but the Club is always looking for new projects to tackle so suggestions are always welcome.

The Jacksonville Boosters Club meets on the second Monday from September to May with their annual picnic in June. If interested in joining this group, please contact the Membership Chair, Ron Holthusen at holthusenr3@gmail.com or at 541-944-5040.

Featured image: Boosters work party at Peter Britt Gardens. Photo: Paula Block