James Allyn’s Generational History within Klickitat County
The Allyn Family came west in 1852 on covered wagons with the Godfrey family. Allyn was determined to relocate his 13 kids and his wife. They settled in the little white church near Vancouver near Salmon Creek. In 1860, Jim’s great grandfather James Henry Allyn took a position as a minister in Wasco and by 1879 eventually made it to Goldendale. This homestead can be seen off of the #8 Road and Hoctor Road by a grove of locust trees.
Jim’s grandfather, Jess Allyn, was 13 years old when his father passed and he proceeded to homestead in Goldendale. He became known as a quality carpenter and built a number of Victorians, one of which is still being lived in. In 1948 Cecil & Frances Allyn, Jim’s parents, established their appliance store in downtown Goldendale, in the location where The Hair Affair is currently located.
Between 1957 and 1961, Jim left Goldendale to attend high school in Portland, Oregon. Though he was at an all-boys school called Benson Poly-Technical, he returned home on weekends to help out at the family business. While at Benson, Jim took pre-engineering classes. During the summer of his senior year, he worked at the Eastside Café as the breakfast cook. Cooking was something he learned from his mom while in 4-H. While at Eastside Café he worked for Ruben Kaiser and after the acting manager took off with a long haul truck driver, Jim was given the opportunity to run the café until it sold. This was his first time managing solo and he was a natural since he knew how to get there at 4AM to take care of the log truck drivers. It was early on when Jim discovered the key to success–work your ass off!!
In December of 1961, Jim eagerly began school at Oregon Tech, but his time there was shortened with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, which resulted in immediate leave. Following the diagnosis, Jim prepared for surgery and was greatly relieved on the eve of surgery when his x-ray showed no sign of TB and he was cleared. In 1962, Jim applied and was accepted at the University of Washington, where he joined fellow county resident Bonnie Beeks. Jim studied Mining and Engineering while at UW and graduated in 1968. From there, he was recruited and accepted a position in Wyoming working in the oil industry.
Meanwhile, back in Goldendale, Jim’s dad Cecil partnered with Richard Arp, his brother-in-law, to begin Allyn’s Building Center in 1969. After two and a half years working in Wyoming, Jim returned home to join the family business. It was in 1971 that Allyn and Arp added business partner Roger Telford. Shortly thereafter, Cecil took an early retirement after catching pneumonia during the annual winter inventory of the yard.
In 1972, Jim’s friends Ken and Karen Shattuck set him up with Patty Woodward for a date. Within a year, Jim and Patty were married. They were blessed with their only child Bryce in 1974, before Patty was stricken with multiple sclerosis. In 1980, Jim had the opportunity to buy out his business partners, Arp and Telford. The family business continued to thrive and Jim considers the crew at Allyn’s Building Center as his family with a few employees working there for 20 or more years of service.
Jim has been a community minded businessman for many years and held a number of positions until he decided politics were not for him.
- Jim served as President of the Nursing Home Board
- Jim served two terms with the Economic Development Board appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
- Jim served two terms on the Goldendale City Council as a councilman with longtime friends Bob Mains, Jim Riley and Rusty McEwen.
Jim says that the people he works with and his customers are what makes him get up and go to work everyday. He takes joy in being around his employees and customers - and hearing about their projects. However, in recent years Jim was forced to slow down due to COVID and his battle with cancer.
When asked about his favorite thing about Klickitat County, Jim responded, “It’s the people and the places.” He has spent years hunting, fishing and enjoying the outdoors between the Klickitat River and Rock Creek.
When asked about his favorite local event, Jim listed a few standouts which included Trunk-or-Treat, where he hands out books and candy to kids on main street in front of his parents’ old appliance store. Jim has been known to host crab feeds at the American Legion and fondly talks about his participation in the early years of the Demolition Derby.
Of course, he mentioned the Klickitat County Fair & Rodeo, where he frequents the livestock auction, because as he stated, he would do anything for kids. When talking about the rodeo, he admitted that he was a one-time bareback rider. It was at the Warm Springs Rodeo, after too much beer…it was a short ride!
Jim’s generosity can be felt throughout Goldendale and he is an avid supporter of youth activities. At the Klickitat County Fair, Jim has often bought a champion animal at the auction to support 4-H and FFA exhibitors. The Allyn’s crew is also responsible for construction of the Reno’s Stage on which our entertainers perform; as well as countless other sponsorships and donations.
Many Grateful Thanks, Jim!
Jim, we hope this fair reminds you of good times with Keith Woodward, Jim Bridgefarmer and the whisky jug they stowed away. Thank you, Jim for your generosity to Klickitat County Fair & Rodeo and throughout our community!