Jackson Area Association of REALTORS®

History of Jackson Area Association of REALTORS and
Jackson Multiple Listing Service

Established in 1904 under the name of the Jackson County Realty Board the Board received its National Charter in 1916. In 1945 twenty-one members formed the Multiple Listing Exchange. in 1949 these two were combined and the name changed to the Jackson Board of REALTORS the following year.
Unfortunately, records of the organization have not been preserved for years prior to 1923, but it is interesting to note that there have been several father/son combinations as well as father/daughter and mother/daughter combinations over the years.
There have also been three fathers and sons who have served as Board President: Frank Perry, 1938 - 1940, and Wilner Perry, 1955; G.J. McDevitt, Sr., 1943, and G.J. McDevitt, Jr., 1964, 1975, 1976, and 1981; Wilbur B. Dunn, 1949 - 1950, and Robert W. Dunn, 1957, 1965, and 1966.
Two members served as President of the Michigan Association of REALTORS; Frank Perry in 1942, and Dan Rees in 1978. Dan Rees was President of the Jackson Board of REALTORS in 1967 and 1969, and served on the Michigan Association and National Association, being active on several committees.
The first woman elected President was Dorothy Peterson in 1977. Since that time, there have been seven women elected to the presidency of the Jackson Board of REALTORS.
The Jackson Board of REALTORS had its first formal office, located at 709 Security Building on Francis Street, after the merger with the Multiple Listing Service in 1950. In 1955, the office was moved to 807 Reynolds Building (now the Harris Building) on W. Michigan Avenue, where it remained until 1974. In March of 1974, the Board purchased the building at 111 East Michigan Avenue, and remained there until July, 1983, when that building was sold and the office moved to 131 S. Mechanic Street. In 1988, the Board purchased and moved into the building it presently owns at 505 S. Jackson Street.
One person who deserves special recognition is Miss Isabelle Blackmer. She faithfully served the Board as Secretary of the Multiple Listing Service and as Executive Secretary to the Board from 1945 until her retirement in 1971.
The name was officially changed to the Jackson Area Association of REALTORS in 1991, and the organization has grown from a staff of 1 (one), serving 21 members in 1945, to today's staff of 5, serving over 450 REALTORS, 125 MLS Offices, 540 MLS users, and 70 Affiliate Offices.
1949 ushered in the beginning of the Association's education programs. Originally two programs per year were offered through the University of Michigan Extension Service. Today the Association offers Orientation Programs to new members, GRI classes, Continuing Education programs which are required by the State of Michigan, as well as informational services offered at the monthly General Membership meetings.
In November of 1988, the Jackson Board of REALTORS formed a wholly owned subsidiary corporation, The Jackson Multiple Listing Service, which provides many different MLS services to its members. In January of 1996, the new age of electronic lock boxes was introduced. They are now being used for the benefit of all members of the Association. In October of 1997, the Jackson MLS took the huge undertaking of vendoring with the Lenawee County Association of REALTORS.
The Jackson Area Association of REALTORS continues to be a very forward-looking corporation, here to serve not only the members, but to help inform and educate buyers and sellers.