Ever wonder how the Independence Township Senior Center began? How the program changed over the years and why some believe the current building and funding are now not enough?
With so much discussion revolving around the Independence Township Senior Center ? both the need for a building and its subsequent funding ? these questions and many more are taking center stage.
With these questions in mind, the following is a brief breakdown of the history of the Independence Township Senior Center. Although certainly not complete, this history is compiled from many of the individuals who actually experienced the moments. In the follow weeks, The Clarkston News will continue to answer these questions and many more.

The Beginning
The Independence Township Senior Center began in 1975 with a group of seniors meeting five times a week in the basement of town hall (currently the location of the assessor’s office) for lunch, cards and bingo. The only offsite activity was bowling at the local lanes.
At this time, meals for the lunch and Meals on Wheels program were delivered by Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency (OLSHA).
‘I don’t really remember who formed (the senior center) to begin with, but we were some of the first to go on trips,? said volunteer and participant Fern Schultz.
In 1977, the township considered leasing property behind the Independence Township Library from the school system, but during discussions, the land at what is now Clintonwood Park became available. At this time, the seniors were meeting in the old white church across from North Sashabaw Elementary on Maybee Road.

The Building
In 1978, Independence Township Parks and Recreation purchased five acres and three buildings on Clarkston Road, what is now Clintonwood Park, for $55,000. Community Development Block Grant funding (CDBG) was used.
The Firellio family owned the current park office and the Smith family resided in the four bedroom home, what is now the senior center. The Carriage House had stalls for sheep and horses, and the current parking lot was a corral.
According to Rina Chemin, senior center coordinator beginning in 1980, the building was not really adequate, but was ‘better than nothing.?
Schultz now wonders if nothing would have been better.
‘No we were not, we were definitely not pleased with (the building),? she said. ‘It should never have been a senior center in the first place, but we were stuck.?
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Turk said at the time, he ‘thought it was a great move.?
‘Although I don’t think the building was ever adequate. Now we’re restricted in our offerings because of space. It’s just not very adequate.?
Over the next year, the house and stables were renovated at a cost of around $55,000. The garage of the home was turned into the dining facilities, the stables into the Carriage House and the commercial kitchen created. A variance was provided for the center until a stairwell from the basement to the outside could be constructed.
‘However, the home was not handicapped accessible at the time,? explained Senior Center Director Margaret Bartos. ‘It took a while to add the access outside and the inside is still not complete.?

The Grand Opening
In April 1979, Chemin was hired as the first full-time coordinator for the center. She was the only staff member when the center opened its doors that October.
Chemin said at this time she added programs like crafts, woodshop, parties, dances and speakers. A pool table was donated and shuffleboard was played in the Carriage House.
‘Horseshoes in the backyard were popular,? Chemin remembers.
A major addition was the creation of a transportation program. Originally, Chemin drove the van herself, but in 1980, John Thomas began volunteering.
‘When I retired in 1980, I retired on a disability. I couldn’t work any where, so I started volunteering at the senior center,? remembers Thomas. ‘I remember a point when Rina had hurt her elbow and couldn’t drive the van. She asked me if I would and I agreed.?
At this time, the requested donation was 50 cents per ride.
Another addition to the newly opened center was the creation of a Senior Advisory Committee to assist in over seeing the department’s operations.

A New Life
Between 1981 and 1983, John Thomas became a stronger influence on the senior center than he ever imagined. In 1981, the longtime Independence Township resident started the center’s first softball league.
‘I read in the paper that they needed ball players. At this time they had men and women playing on the same team, and I and a friend who had played before ? we were both pretty good players ? we were scared someone was going to get hurt. They had women who had never played pitching,? recalled Thomas.
‘The year later, we started a men’s team.?
In 1983, Thomas again helped start a new program with the center’s first volleyball team. For years the team played at Columbiere; however, in 1993, the center was being charged $300 per year to use the gym. Now, Columbiere requires $25 per hour.
‘We don’t have that kind of money,? said Thomas. ‘Now we do what we can. Now we play in a league in Warren.?
This year’s volleyball team spends Mondays in Columbiere, Tuesdays in Warren and Thursdays in Rochester.
Although the seniors had priority use of the buildings, Parks and Recreation also used the facilities in the evenings and on weekends.

New Roommates
Also between 1981 and 1982, the senior center became the home of the Clarkston Area Youth Assistance. In 1983, the center hired Sharon Turner as the first transportation dispatcher and clerk.

Two Decades of Growth
Throughout the remaining 1980s and 1990s, the senior center continued to grow. In 1980, the membership fee was $5 per year and newsletters were mailed only to those 55 years and older. Membership grew from 200 people to over 600.
Several new programs were started and many others, such as transportation, were expanded. The center offered transportation services for the handicapped in the late 1980s for the first time.
In 1994, Lynette Amon was hired as the coordinator. By this point, six softball teams played at the center and a second full-time bus driver was hired. Springfield Township residents were added to the transportation route thanks to Municipal Credit Monies given to the township. Extended trips were cancelled at this time due to financial constraints.

The Current Program
Coordinator Margaret Bartos was hired in 1999. She began to slowly revamp the centers offerings to add quilting, knitting, computer lessons, exercise with weights, Tai Chi, line dancing, healing touch, attorney consultations, daytime parties and volunteer opportunities.
‘I had a different view of how the senior center should run,? said Bartos. ‘I wanted to use more volunteers, and expand the programs.
‘Every generation is different. Every decade has a different want, need and interest. I wanted to created programs for three generations of seniors ? 50s, 70s and 90s.?
The Senior Advisory Committee was revised and extended trips were begun again. Newsletter mailings soared to 2,500 with no fee attached. In 2002, the newsletter was mailed only to those who paid $10 per year. In 2003, the newsletter was mailed to residents over 51 years once a year in a mass mailing.
‘The amount of activity is the biggest change,? said Thomas. ‘I know the driving of the van is different. It now takes 50 percent more time to do what I did because of traffic and such.?
‘The biggest change is the seniors themselves,? said Turk. ‘There are more younger seniors now, like mid-50s, participating. They want more to do with physical activity. This group of seniors is quite persistent ? they’re not going to give up.?
‘I think the different programs are starting to bring in different people,? said Schultz. ‘Not much else has changed. I think there would be even more people if we weren’t limited by the space.?

Look in next week’s edition of The Clarkston News for the second story in the senior center series.