Doris "Chris" Van Allsburg

The slogan for Lowell is “Your Story Starts Here.” This slogan is true for Doris “Chris” Christiansen Van Allsburg.

Chris was born in 1923 to William (went by Bill or Chris) and Rose Christiansen.* Christiansen’s Drug Store and soda fountain was a basic staple of life in Lowell for decades. It was the first place that kids raced to after school for a nickel cherry coke or a malted milkshake. Chris grew up in this atmosphere.

After graduating from Lowell High School Chris went to Grand Rapids Junior College (now Grand Rapids Community College) and then worked for Pennsylvania Central Airlines as an agent. She left that job to join the Navy’s Women’s Reserve in 1943. Fittingly, in 1941, Chris had served as a “Yeomanette of the Showboat” and was honored to present Governor Murray D. Van Wagoner with a skipper’s cap for his adventure as guest captain!

Chris married Richard VanAllsburg in 1946, and they had two children, daughter Karen and son Chris. Richard and Chris divorced in 1972. Chris’s son inherited his mother’s imagination and ability to imagine an idealized version of something and use that as the goal in accomplishing it. With this gift he became an acclaimed children’s author and illustrator. His books include The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, Jumanji, and The Polar Express.

Chris opened Jersey Junction in East Grand Rapids in 1963. The name was carefully chosen. Chris’ father believed Jersey cows produced the best milk and therefore, the best ice cream. A Junction is where roads come together. Jersey Junction sought to serve the best ice cream and be a place where family and friends could come together. Jersey Junction is still a beloved destination today. The ice cream shop’s interior shows off historical pictures from the area and is a great place to learn about the history of East Grand Rapids and Ramona Park. Jersey Junction also has a model of the Polar Express that runs along the ceiling of the ice cream shop. Chris’ success was based on her goal of providing memories for customers, both to “revive memories for oldsters and create them for youngsters.” Her obituary stated that these were “the kind of memories she’d acquired as a young girl growing up in Lowell.”

With her great sense for business, not only was her business successful, but she was also the first woman member and the first woman president of the Gaslight Village Businessmen’s Club.

Chris came up with the idea and led the effort to install gas lights to the East Grand Rapids area and name the area “Gaslight Village.” She served on the East Grand Rapids City Commission from 1968 - 1972. She was the first woman on the commission. During her time on the commission, she developed concerts in the park on Reeds Lake shores.

Chris died in 2001. In 2004 East Grand Rapids dedicated a monument and garden in Gaslight Village to honor her. Mayor Cindy Bartman thanked Chris for blazing the trail that Bartman was then able to walk down.

Chris’ story started in Lowell and at her father’s soda fountain, Chris launched her own career and life, benefiting her community for future generations. Her son then followed in her footsteps as well. The story that started in Lowell not only continues on, but it also spread from Lowell to East Grand Rapids, to the world!

Images:

Jersey Junction, East Grand Rapids, Chris Van Allsburg helping a customer. Photo Courtesy of Jersey Junction.

Christiansen's Drug Store, Lowell

Jersey Junction, East Grand Rapids.

Left to right - Elizabeth Ramsey, Governor Murray D. Van Wagoner, and Doris (Chris) Christiansen Van Allsburg at the Lowell Showboat.
​
Chris Van Allsburg.